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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.
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.
How late can you plant a crepe myrtle?
Plant crepe myrtles late in the year. If you wait until fall or winter to plant your crepe myrtles, they won’t begin sprouting leaves until the weather warms up. Avoid planting crepe myrtles at the tail end of summer. Without the necessary warmth, the tree won’t be able to survive.
Can you plant crepe myrtles close to the 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 plant crepe myrtles?
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.
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.
Should you mulch crepe myrtles?
Mulch to fight weeds, trap moisture When planting crape myrtles, gardeners should install a layer of mulch about 3 to 5 inches deep in an area twice as large as the planting hole. Insect damage is a frequent problem on crape myrtles and aphids cause much of that damage.
Are coffee grounds good for crepe myrtle?
The answer is yes! Coffee grounds make an excellent ground mulch, especially for acid-loving plants.
Can I plant a crape myrtle in winter?
Crape myrtle prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade, albeit with reduced blooming. If you live at the colder end of crape myrtle’s hardiness range, you can help it withstand chilly winters by planting it against a south-facing wall where it will receive the most warmth and sunlight.
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.
Can crepe myrtle survive winter?
Most crape myrtle varieties are winter hardy to zone 7, which corresponds to a minimum winter temperature of 0° to 10° F. Depending on where you live in Ohio, you may be in zone 5 or 6, where crape myrtles will need some winter protection in order to survive. The crape myrtle will look dead, but hang in there!.
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.
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.
What age 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.
Are crepe myrtles hard to grow?
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.
What kind of 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.
How much room do crape myrtles need?
General Recommendations. Crape myrtles are fast-growing trees — often growing 24 inches or more in one season. Most varieties grow between 10 and 30 feet tall and 15 to 25 feet wide. They should be planted to accommodate their mature width with at least 15 feet between each shrub.
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.
Are crape myrtles good for privacy?
Crape Myrtles are a beautiful choice when deciding what to plant. You will receive well branched plants that will quickly become a thick, bushy and blooming privacy shield.
Which crape myrtle is the best?
Natchez is recognized as the top performing crape myrtle in the southeastern United States. It was introduced by the U. S. National Arboretum in 1987. White flowers and exfoliating bark are characteristic of this cultivar, which reaches heights of 30 feet at maturity.
