Table of Contents
Find a Sunny Location. Decide where in your garden the crape myrtle should go. Choose a Variety. Choose a variety that won’t outgrow its space or need to be constantly pruned. Dig a Hole. Dig a hole three to four times as wide as the container. Plant the Tree. Water Gently. Mulch with Pine Straw.
When should crepe myrtles be planted?
Late fall to early spring is the best time to plant. But a lot of folks buy and plant their crepe myrtle in summer because they select it while it is blooming. That works too, but watering well during the summer months is crucial to transitioning it into your garden.
How fast does a crape myrtle tree grow?
Growth Rate This shrub grows at a fast rate, with height increases of more than 24″ per year.
Can I plant a crepe myrtle next to my house?
You can plant crape myrtle near the foundation as they have non-invasive roots, according to Dayton Nursery. However, be sure to plant them far enough away from the foundation and the building so the shrub can grow to its full size without being blocked by the building.
How do you care for newly planted crepe myrtles?
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.
How often do you water a crape myrtle tree?
Water For Crape Myrtle To prevent the plant from dying, it must be watered once a week. Be sure to soak the entire root system deeply, this will take about 45-60 minutes. For best growth and production, crape myrtles should receive at least one inch of water a week.
Are coffee grounds good for crepe myrtle?
The answer is yes! Coffee grounds make an excellent ground mulch, especially for acid-loving plants.
What is the best fertilizer for crape myrtles?
Then, to maximize spring growth and summer bloom, fertilize crape myrtles in early spring just prior to new growth. Fertilizers including 8-8-8, 10-10-10, 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 will work fine and are ideal for crape myrtles, but don’t go overboard.
How far from a fence should you plant a crepe myrtle?
If you are planting a row of crape myrtles to create a privacy screen, you’ll want to leave at least three feet from your property line or fence. Five feet is recommended for larger types, as you’ll want to ensure you have control over the growth and pruning of your tree.
Do crepe myrtles need a lot of water?
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 overwater a crape myrtle?
Watering Issues Crape myrtle trees need the most moisture in the soil profile when they are actively growing — when the plant displays leaves. Overwatering crape myrtles in spring and summer can diminish flowering, since overly moist soil promotes leafy growth, not flower production.
What is the lifespan of a crape myrtle?
Lifespan – When planted in full sun and fertile soil, Crepe Myrtles can live well beyond 50 years. In fact, dotted along the southeastern landscape, it is common to come across specimens over 100 years old.
What is the difference between a crepe myrtle bush and a crepe myrtle tree?
The difference between the crape myrtle bush and the crape myrtle tree is that the tree is taller than crape myrtle bush. Crape myrtle bushes have multiple stems and their height is between 2 and 15 ft. Crape myrtle trees can be as much as 20 ft. (6 m) taller than the bushes.
What can you plant at the bottom of a crepe myrtle?
Surrounded by Hostas As noted, crepe myrtles will create shade. Therefore, if you’re going to plant near the base of the tree, you’ll need shade-tolerant plants. Hostas are an ideal choice. They’re easy to maintain, and many species love the shade.
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.
Where is the best place to plant crepe myrtles?
Crape Myrtle Trees need plenty of sun, so choose a bright sunny spot for your planting. They are idea for those hot, dry places where other plants do not thrive, so take advantage of that and use them in places that can be hard to fill.
What soil do crepe myrtles like?
Crape myrtle tolerate a wide range of soil types, including clay. They prefer a well- drained but moist soil. Crape Myrtle grow best in an acid to slightly acid soil ranging from 5.0 to 6.5 on the pH scale. Most average garden soils fall between a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0.
Why is my newly planted crepe myrtle dying?
Sometimes roots don’t have enough room to spread out or didn’t get enough water right after being planted. Whatever the case, trees wear their heart on their sleeve–or should we say their leaves. That’s why you see those wilted, yellow or brown leaves.
Are crepe myrtles easy growing?
How to grow crape myrtle is not an issue in most areas to which they are hardy, USDA Zones 9 down to 7 (with some special varieties surviving in zone 6), as they are easy to grow in the right location.
Can you grow crepe myrtle in pots?
Crepe myrtle prefers a good quality, reliably moist yet free-draining soil with added organic matter, but it will perform well in regular garden soil. In pots, use a premium-quality potting mix.
Do crepe myrtles bloom first year?
Crape myrtles need to have new growth each spring in order to produce summer flowers. These flowers come on current-season growth, so late winter/early spring fertilization can aid crape myrtle flowering in the summer. Some varieties don’t flower as vigorously as others. Hybrid crape myrtles usually flower first.
