How do you keep crepe myrtles blooming?

Crape myrtles require eight hours of direct sun daily to bloom well. Crape myrtles planted in areas that receive less than six hours of direct sun do not get enough sunlight for adequate bloom development. – Variety. Some varieties don't flower as vigorously as others.

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.

Do crepe myrtles need deadheading?

Q: Do you have to deadhead crape myrtle trees to get more flowers? A: No, you do not have to deadhead the Southern lilac (crepe or crape myrtle, depending on what source you consult), but it does help to stimulate more flowers when you do — if you can reach them.

Will crepe myrtle bloom if not pruned?

Some people think they need to prune off old seed heads to have blooms the following year. This is absolutely false. Others hack back these plants to keep them from getting too big. These folks need to remember that crepe myrtles are small trees, not foundation shrubs.

Why do crepe myrtles stop blooming?

If no flowers appear, it can be because the tree was pruned late in the season, mistakenly removing the new wood which causes the buds for the flowers to never really develop. Never prune a crape myrtle BEFORE it blooms.

Why aren't my Crape Myrtles blooming?

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.

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.

What month do you prune crepe myrtle trees?

Early spring before new growth is the best time to prune crape myrtles. Whenever you prune, you cause the tree to generate new growth. New growth that starts now will not have time to harden off before frost.

What month should crepe myrtles be cut back?

February is a good time to prune crape myrtles. It should be done before fresh growth appears in March. Its toughness makes crape myrtle a popular plant. They are fast-growing and highly adaptable.

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.

Should I cut the seed pods off 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.

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 take care of a crape myrtle tree?

How do you prune a crape myrtle bush?

If you need to prune your crapemyrtle tree or shrub, thinning branches to limb up the crapemyrtle is the correct method. Remove lower limbs that are thinner than a pencil diameter. While the plant is young, it is acceptable to prune the top of the branches. When it gets older, this is unacceptable.

What month 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.

What tools can you use to prune crape myrtles?

You're best off using anvil- or bypass-type hand pruners for cutting through crape myrtle branches with a diameter of up to 3/4 inch. Lopping shears, or loppers, have longer handles for greater leverage and reach, and can cut through branches up to 1 3/4 inches in diameter.

How do you prepare a crepe myrtle for winter?

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.

Are coffee grounds good for crepe myrtles?

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

Why are the leaves on my crepe myrtle turning yellow?

ANSWER: This is Cercospora leaf spot due to all the rain. In most instances, infected leaves develop a yellowish to orangey red coloration then fall off. Raking and removing infected fallen leaves is a good idea. But crape myrtles are so common this will not prevent future problems.

How often do you water a crepe myrtle?

Water newly planted crape myrtles at least once a week if dormant and in cool weather, and up to five times a week if planted during hot weather or in very sandy soil. Water new plants regularly for about two months, and water during drought for better blooms and healthier 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.

Is Osmocote good for crape myrtle?

Best Fertilizer for Crepe Myrtle

However, if you are using a 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 solution, follow the same rate, but reduce the amount of fertilizer to half a pound. Opt for a slow-release fertilizer, such as Osmocote, or any 10-10-10 all-purpose fertilizer containing trace minerals.

How can I make my crepe myrtle grow faster?

To help your crape myrtle grow taller (and produce more flowers), use a slow-release fertilizer that is high in nitrogen. Do not use this too often or you will get more leaves than flowers. Water the tree once a week, soaking the entire root system thoroughly. They require at least 1 inch of water per week.