Posted by admin | Posted in trees,shrubs | Posted on 19-04-2010
Tags: crape, crepe myrtle trees pruning, fruit, gardening, pruning, pruning crepe myrtle trees in fall, pruning crepe myrtle trees in florida, pruning crepe myrtle trees video, pruning crepe myrtle trees winter, trees
How/when do I prune a crepe myrtle tree to make it lower and bushier rather than tall?
A beautiful Crepe Myrtle tree has grown wild in my back yard. It is about 12-16 ft tall. I would like to have it busher and fuller at the bottom.
Hmmmm I agree – why would you want to do that to a Crepe Myrtle. There are many species of this tree, some are very low growing and others get to 60′. ( zone 9 ) Most landscapers prefer to trim back the Myrle’s so they are bushy and produce more flowers. However, that is an illusion. It appears that way because the blossoms are at your height, not 20 to 60 feet up in the air.
Also, more evidence is in from Agr. sites that the constant cutting back causes bark to crack and dead wood to form in the
centers. If you do it, only do it every several years. If you want more detailed information send me an eamil.
Gardening Tips : How to Prune a Crape Myrtle Into a Tree