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Crape myrtles are of interest for many reasons. They are highly ornamental and are available in a variety of colors including white, pink, purple and dark red. They bloom in mid-late summer and the flowers can last as long as 100 days.
What time of year do crepe myrtles bloom?
Most years, crape myrtles start blooming between mid-May and early June. Flowering continues for 90-120 days depending on the variety. You may sometimes see crape myrtles not blooming well.
Why is my crepe myrtle not 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.
Do crepe myrtles bloom at different times?
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.
When should my crepe myrtle leaf out?
Crepe myrtles leaf out in spring, generally in late March or early April, in USDA zone 9. The flowers appear in early to midsummer, depending on the cultivar.
What happens if you dont trim crepe myrtle?
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.
How long do crape myrtle trees live?
Crepe myrtles live quite a few years if you take care of them. A crepe myrtle lifespan can exceed 50 years. So that’s the answer to the question “how long do crepe myrtle trees live?” They can live a good, long time with suitable care.
Should you trim crepe myrtles every year?
Growing Conditions Also, crepe myrtles need minimal pruning. Some gardeners top them annually, but this ruins their natural shape and beauty. Remove the sucker growth that sometimes appears around the base. Only prune to shape trees or to take out any cross branching.
What is wrong with my crepe myrtle tree?
Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) are essentially trouble-free small trees. The most common problems include powdery mildew, Cercospora leaf spot, aphids, Japanese beetles, and sooty mold.
How do you care for a crape myrtle?
How to Care for Crape Myrtle Find Full Sunlight. Crape myrtle needs full sun (6 or more hours per day) to thrive. Use Suitable Soil. Fertilize Lightly. Treat Fungus Before It Starts. Prune Sparingly in Winter or Early Spring. Expose the Trunk for More Beauty. Deadhead for Even More Flowers.
Why is my dogwood tree not blooming?
A dogwood tree not blooming can be caused by improper pruning. Dogwood trees do not need to be pruned to keep them healthy, but if you are pruning them for shape, be sure that you only prune them after they have finished blooming.
How long do crepe myrtles stay dormant?
Don’t worry, just like a bear sleeps for the winter, your crape myrtles may still still be sleeping . Crapes won’t normally start leafing out until temperature reach the 80’s for a few weeks in a row. Some will start leafing out early if you have a some late warm winter weather.
What do you feed crepe myrtle?
How to Fertilize Crape Myrtle. You’ll want to start feeding with a general-purpose, well-balanced garden fertilizer. Use 8-8-8, 10-10-10, 12-4-8, or 16-4-8 fertilizer. A granular product works well for crape myrtle.
How do I bring my crepe myrtle back to life?
Cut off the dead top and let the shoots grow. They’ll grow faster than a congressman’s nose. Select 4-5 well-spaced ones to become the new main trunks and cut off the rest. Your crepe myrtle will grow back free-of-charge and may even bloom this summer.
Is my crepe myrtle dying?
Signs that your Crepe Myrtle is dying or dead Crepe Myrtles have thin bark, which you can scratch with your fingernail. You can do this to check the health of your tree. Tree care professionals call this the “scratch test.” If the bark underneath is green, your tree is still alive.
How do you keep Crepe Myrtles blooming?
If you have an older crepe myrtle that doesn’t bloom the way you think it should, wait until after crepe myrtle bloom time and encourage the crepe myrtle bloom by pruning it carefully. If you trim away any of the dead branches that are inside the tree, this allows more sunshine and air to reach the tree.
Do deer eat crepe myrtles?
From the article at the link – Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) come in a variety of different hybrids with bright, lacy flower clusters in the summer. Though the hungriest deer will eat plants not characteristic of its regular diet, deer will seldom eat any variety of crape myrtle.
Why is bark peeling off crepe myrtle?
However, you should know that peeling bark on crepe myrtle is normal. It occurs after the tree has reached full maturity, which may be a several years after you plant it. They are often prized because of the coloration that shows up on their wood once the bark is shed.
Do crepe myrtles need deadheading?
Cut off spent crape myrtle blossoms by late July to encourage flowering again. Deadheading crape myrtles (removing dead or dying flowers) encourages new sprouts and blooms, but if you deadhead too late in the season, the tender new growth that is produced can be damaged by cold weather.
