Early spring before new growth is the best time to prune crape myrtles. Pruning causes the tree to grow new growth. New growth will not have time to grow before the next pruning.
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What happens if you don’t prune crepe myrtles?
Leaving it alone will result in a pretty raggedy-looking tree, and it won’t grow as quickly either. If you trim at the right point, the new growth will emerge on its own, and you will encourage the tree to grow faster.
If you don’t want to do this, then you can just leave your tree alone and let it grow naturally. It’s not a bad idea, but it’s certainly not the only way to go.
Should you trim crepe myrtles every year?
Also, crepe myrtles need minimal pruning. Gardeners top them every year, which ruins their natural shape and beauty. The base sometimes has sucker growth around it. The only way to shape trees is to take out dead branches.
What month is late winter?
The late winter is when the spring thaw begins. Depending on your climate, this could be in january to may. Count the days until the next frost by using your average last frost date. If you see frost on the ground or in the air, it is likely that you have frost in your area. If there is no frost, you are in late spring and early summer.
How late can you prune crepe myrtles?
Pruning as late as may will cause some delay in bloom time, but it won’t hurt the tree. Any branches you leave untouched will be unaffected, so as with any tree, removing poorly placed or dead branches can be a good idea.
How do you prune a crepe myrtle that is too tall?
If heavy-pruning is an annual ritual, transplant it, if possible, and replace it with a shorter variety. If it’s only a bit too tall, prune the top branches back 2 feet to a side branch. Don’t allow it to be that way forever.
If you’re pruning a tree that’s been in your yard for a long time, you might want to consider a pruned-down version of the same tree. It’s a good idea to cut back on the number of branches you have in the first place, so that you can keep the overall height of your tree as low as possible.
Can you cut back a crepe myrtle in the summer?
Pruning crepe myrtles in summer is not the optimal time of year to trim your trees, unless you wait until after they bloom. The beginning of summer is signaled by a profusion of tiny white flowers.
If you’re lucky enough to live in a warm climate, you may be able to get away with trimming your myrtle trees during the summer months. If not, it’s best to wait for the trees to bloom in the fall, when they’ll be ready to be pruned.