Do crape myrtles bloom twice a year?

You Really Can Have Two Bloom Cycles on Crepe Myrtles. Some years, the first bloom cycle of crepe myrtles lasts a month or more. Other years, it seems to go away far too soon.

Do crepe myrtles bloom more than once?

Cut off spent crape myrtle blossoms by late July to encourage flowering again. I've heard that if you deadhead crape myrtles, they'll bloom again. Is this true? Many varieties of crape myrtles can be encouraged to bloom a second time, but timing is important.

How many times do crepe myrtles bloom?

Louisianians plant many crape myrtles in their landscapes every year. The lovely, long-lasting blooms make them attractive. Most years, crape myrtles start blooming between mid-May and early June. Flowering continues for 90-120 days depending on the variety.

How do you get crepe myrtles to bloom again?

If your Crape Myrtle has about 15-20% bloom left, it's time to cut it back. Cutting it back now will encourage new growth and new blooms. Crape Myrtles are fast-growing, so don't worry about cutting too much.

Why do crepe myrtles bloom at different times?

3. Bloom time can vary by 6-8 weeks depending on your variety of crape myrtle. Flower blossoms develop on new growth, so while each variety varies in its exact bloom time, flowering can also depend on the pruning you did in winter.

Do crepe myrtles bloom twice a year?

What happens if you don't prune crepe myrtles?

Leaving it alone will result in a pretty raggedy-looking tree, and it won't grow as quickly either. The new growth will emerge on its own from the fresh cuts, and if you trim at just the right point, you'll encourage way more blooms to appear.

What would cause a crepe myrtle not to bloom?

Crepe myrtle not blooming due to lack of sun

The crepe myrtle requires significant sunshine in order to bloom. If you have a crepe myrtle not blooming, it may be planted in a bad place that lacks sunshine. Take a look around and see if something is blocking the sun from the tree.

Should I cut off old flowers on crepe myrtle?

ANSWER: Cutting the clusters of faded flowers or seed pods off is optional. Most gardeners consider deadheading crape myrtle trees more trouble than it's worth, but it's certainly something you may do. Sometimes it's recommended to ensure another flush of late-summer blooms.

Is Miracle Grow good for crepe myrtles?

Using these types of fertilizers will cover your bases if the soil in your area is deficient in a certain element or trace mineral. The easiest to use and most well known fertilizer is Miracle Gro. However, if you have many Crape Myrtles you wish to fertilize, using Miracle Gro can become expensive.

Should you trim crepe myrtles?

Crape myrtles should be pruned during the winter. Many people prune in late winter, from late February into early March. The important thing to remember is to prune crape myrtles right before new growth begins in the spring. A crape myrtle's flower buds are produced on new growth.

Do crape myrtles bloom all summer?

Crape Myrtles are TREES and that means they grow TALL from 20 – 40' in height. They have been lovingly referred to as the Lilac of the South (with no fragrance) with a very long bloom time in the summer.

Do crepe myrtles only bloom on new growth?

The answer: Crape Myrtles only bloom on new growth. The more old wood you remove, the more new growth the plant will have to produce. This new growth is where all the blooms will appear. Crape Myrtles should be pruned in the winter months when they are dormant.

Should seed pods be removed from crepe myrtle?

The balls at the end of crape myrtle branches are seed pods that formed from the flowers last summer. They do not hurt the tree and will not affect flowering this summer. A: The short answer is no. You do not need to cut off the balls at the end of the branches.

What time of year do crepe myrtles bloom?

Blooms then follow around the end of May or early June. Expect leaves about a month after the last frost as a rule of thumb. Furthermore, allow about two months after this for flowers to develop. For example, in zone 8, the latest frost date is March 28th.

Can you cut back a crepe myrtle in the summer?

Pruning crepe myrtles in summer is not the optimal time of year to trim your trees, unless you wait until after they bloom. Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) signal the beginning of summer with a profusion of colorful flower clusters.

How do you maintain a crepe myrtle?

Are coffee grounds good for crepe myrtles?

The answer is yes! Coffee grounds make an excellent ground mulch, especially for acid-loving plants.

Do crepe myrtles need lots of water?

Crape Myrtle Water Requirements

Crepe myrtle likes a medium amount of water and prefers consistently moist soils where it can get it. However, once established, it is quite drought-tolerant and will subsist on a deep watering – to a depth of 6 inches or so – once or twice per month, reports Wilson Brothers Gardens.

Can you over water crepe myrtles?

Overwatering crape myrtles in spring and summer can diminish flowering, since overly moist soil promotes leafy growth, not flower production.

What if my crepe myrtle is too tall?

If your crape myrtle does become too tall for its location, you can prune the tree back to a more appropriate height- just don't make this a regular practice each year. It will take a little more time to prune correctly, but you will end up with a beautiful tree.

Can you trim crepe myrtles with a chainsaw?

You must understand a Crepe Myrtle is a tree, not a shrub. Therefore, do not take a chainsaw and cut all limbs off shoulder high. This is not the correct way to prune a Crepe Myrtle. Treat the plant as a tree.

What is the best fertilizer for crape myrtle?

Use 8-8-8, 10-10-10, 12-4-8, or 16-4-8 fertilizer. A granular product works well for crepe myrtle. Take care not to overfertilize. Too much food for crepe myrtles makes them grow more foliage and fewer flowers.

How far back do you cut a crepe myrtle?

Cut all the way back. I like branching to begin 6 to 8 feet off the ground because it looks better and is more practical. If you don't need to walk under the branches or see through them to view oncoming traffic, you can allow the branching to start lower. Prune unwanted low branches all the way back to the main trunk.