The goal of pruning is to help your tree be as strong and beautiful as it can be. If you choose not to prune, then you will likely have too many spindly trunks fighting for nutrition and too few blooms to make an ornamental statement in your landscape. Because Crepe Myrtles tend to be bush-small tree sized many homeowners think they should be able to prune the tree themselves.
This is a bad idea. With any tree pruning, improper cuts and pruning the wrong limbs can cause damage to the tree. Additionally, if you have to stand on a ladder to reach the branches or hold a power tool above your head, you risk injuring yourself. Proper Crepe Myrtle pruning focuses on removing thin and poorly placed branches to open up the center leading to better air circulation. You may have seen Crepe Myrtles drastically cut back; however, this type of pruning is bad for the tree.
It ruins any chance of ever seeing the beautiful, mottled bark that is the trademark of a mature Crepe Myrtle. The shoots that sprout up are often too weak to hold up the blooms causing the tree to droop.
Not only does crepe murder produce weak, unsightly trees, but it also makes more work for the pruner as more suckers shoot up and need pruning. With proper pruning, the work should become less and less each year. This is one of the reasons you should always turn to your Certified Arborist.
Removing dead wood from your Crepe Myrtles encourages new growth. When new branches grow, more blooms can be enjoyed. Need help pruning your Crepe Myrtles? To meet with one of our Certified Arborists, you can reserve an appointment online or call us at Bio-Stimulants contain a natural blend of sugars, bacteria, humic acid, sea kelp extract, and fungi.
This mix feeds the soil and naturally fertilizes the tree. By introducing this blend to the critical root zone it will re-establish good soil composition and act as a multi-vitamin for your tree.
Every year trees and shrubs rely on photosynthesis to create food for new leaf growth. The stress caused by Powdery Mildew also makes the tree more susceptible to other diseases and insect infestations. Crepe myrtle roots tolerate more cold than the branches and stems, which suffer some damage during freezes and may even die back to the ground when temperatures plummet below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Many of these trees suffered significant damage or died after experiencing continuous freezing temperatures in eastern NC several years ago. Deer seldom eat any variety of crepe myrtle, making this a great option for your garden or landscaping plans. Stop by the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center and enjoy the colorful crepe myrtles scattered throughout the rest area!
The sunlight will provide more blooms, and growth. It will also dry out branches and prevent mold. Air circulation within the canopy will prevent mold and mildew from growing. Also, remove any branches that take away from the shape that you desire for your trees, like branches growing at weird angles, or one branch that seems to be way taller than the rest! Before you prune your trees, study them and get a game plan for what you want to remove. You can always go back and prune more later, but you never want to over prune your tree or thin it out too much!
When pruning branches make your cuts back to about a 3rd of their size. Make the cuts at degree angles facing upwards to promote new growth.
Make the cut straight across the branch. If you see side branches under three to four feet growing from the trunks of your trees, remove them to keep your Crape Myrtles from having a shrubby look. If you see new growth growing out of the ground around the trunks of your trees get a firm grip on them, and pull upwards on them in a twisting motion.
These growths are called suckers and should be removed! Suckers generally steal nutrients from the rest of the tree. They will naturally drop to make way for new blooms. However, to get faster blooms after each blooming cycle you can remove them by picking them off of the branches by hand.
Pruning Crape Myrtle trees is a simple task that will give you tons of blooms all summer!
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