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Find a Sunny Location. Decide where in your garden the crape myrtle should go. They need full sun and good air circulation. It will grow in most soil as long as there is good drainage.
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.
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.
What is the best month to plant crepe myrtles?
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.
Do crepe myrtles grow fast?
This shrub grows at a fast rate, with height increases of more than 24″ per year.
Can crepe myrtles grow in shade?
I have seen crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) growing in partial shade, however, they grow best in full sun. When grown in partial shade, they tend to get overly leggy and their flowers are typically smaller and fewer. In addition, many crape myrtles are susceptible to powdery mildew disease, which worsens in shade.
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.
What conditions do crepe myrtles like?
Crape myrtle needs full sun (6 or more hours per day) to thrive. With less sunlight, blooms will not be as prolific and their colors may be diminished. These plants are not demanding about the pH of their soil, though neutral or slightly acidic soils are best.
How much room does a crepe myrtle need?
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. Crape myrtles have a naturally graceful form and look best when pruned lightly.
What can you plant at the bottom of a crepe myrtle?
The 6 Best Plants to Plant under Crepe Myrtle Trees Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) The Rose of Sharon bush perfectly compliments a crepe myrtle tree. Creeping lilyturf (Liriope spicata) The roots of your crepe myrtle tree are very shallow. Lantana. Hibiscus. Rain Lily (Zephyranthes grandiflora) Coreopsis.
Is there a difference between a crepe myrtle bush and 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.
Do crape myrtle trees have invasive roots?
Crepe myrtle trees are lovely, delicate trees offering bright, spectacular flowers in the summer and beautiful fall color when the weather begins to chill. You don’t have to worry about this issue because crepe myrtle tree roots are not invasive.
Is crape myrtle invasive?
Lagerstroemia indica (Crape Myrtle) is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.
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.
Are crepe myrtles messy?
Crape myrtles also require pruning to promote the new growth needed for blooming, to reveal the bark, and to keep the shrub or tree tidy. Moreover, with its flowers, leaves and peeling bark, crape myrtles can be messy to care for. Be prepared for plenty of raking and clean-up.
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.
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.
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.
What is the lifespan of a crepe myrtle tree?
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.
