Crape Myrtles are a beautiful addition to any garden or landscape. To ensure they grow to their full potential, it’s essential to prune them the correct way. Here are some tips to help you properly prune your Crape Myrtles and maintain their health and beauty.
Do’s and Don’ts of Crape Myrtle Pruning
- Don’t prune off the tops of the tree:
- While Crape Myrtles may look tempting to prune from the top, it’s not recommended. This practice, called topping, can lead to weak growth, a shorter lifespan, and a less healthy tree. Yes, you will see some homeowners and some landscapers still doing this. Please refrain from committing what we call “crape murder”.
- Do prune small branches:
- Any limb smaller than the diameter of a pencil can be pruned without harming the tree. This practice promotes new growth and keeps the tree looking healthy.
- Do prune crossing or rubbing limbs:
- Any branches that are crossing or rubbing against each other should be pruned. This will help prevent damage to the tree, reduce the risk of the tree becoming diseased or inviting pests, and it will promote healthy growth.
- Do prune limbs growing toward the center of the tree:
- Some of the limbs growing towards the center of the tree can be pruned to open up for more air circulation. This will also help prevent disease and promote new growth.
- Do prune suckers coming up from the ground:
- Suckers are small shoots that come up from the tree’s base. They should be pruned to keep the tree healthy and looking its best. Cut these back right at the ground.
- Do leave an odd number of trunks:
- When pruning Crape Myrtles, they look best when you leave an odd number of trunks, such as 3, 5, or 7. This practice promotes healthy growth with less competition of trunks and also creates a pleasing shape.
- Do prune any broken or damaged limbs:
- Any broken or damaged limbs should be pruned to prevent further damage to the tree.
- Do make cuts close to the collar:
- When pruning, make cuts close to the collar, where the branch meets the trunk. This will help the tree heal faster and prevent damage to the remaining bark. Take care not to cut so deep that you cut into the remaining bark and damage it. .
Offer your crape myrtles sunshine, fertilizer (we like Nelson’s 10-15-9), and regular water (especially through drought periods). All this combined with the pruning advice above should have you enjoying a bounty of colorful crape myrtle blooms.
After flowering, if you desire (and if you can reach them), you can snip off the distal ends of the dried blooms but this is not a required pruning step. By following these simple guidelines, you can keep your Crape Myrtles healthy and looking beautiful for years to come.
Want more on crape myrtles? See our short YouTube video here, and another blog about crape myrtles here.
Or see what crape myrtles are currently available in our online/store pick up shop here. (Currently for our Bandera location only.) Full inventory is available in store, and selections vary by location.
~The Happy Gardener, Lisa Mulroy
Thank You! I have 3 Ebony Crape Myrtles, which are about 2 years this summer! They are very slow growing! I have wanted to know what to do to help them. I live in the Texas Hill country, and my soil is not th as e best. Yes, I have fertilized many times, plus abundant water.
Hi Cheryl,
Sounds like you are doing what you need to do. One more question is are they getting enough sun? The soil could be an issue if it is not well-draining or if they’ve been planted on top of rock, but you really shouldn’t be transplanting this time of year (wait until this Nov – Dec). I did, however, find an interesting study that I am linking here, that showed the ebony cultivars grew at a much slower pace, so it might just be due to the variety.
Wish you had locations in Austin
Awwww! Thanks! We hope you can make a day trip down to San Antonio to visit!
I have potted dwarf crype myrtles. When should I prune them?
Hi Maria,
You can prune your potted crape myrtles the same time as those planted in the ground. Late winter/early spring is a good time to do this task. After pruning, offer some fertilizer and water, and you can even put a 2″ layer of mulch around the base (not up against the trunk though).
Thanks for the very helpful insight, especially the part on “crepe-murder”. A neighbor was considering it and I was as well.
Is there a best time to move a crepe? My Oak tree has almost reached it and shades it totally most the day.
Hi Dave,
If you live in San Antonio, I’m afraid the window of transplanting time has closed. It is best to move trees and shrubs Nov – Dec. If you move it now, it will most likely struggle from shock and be further set back in trying to get its roots established before the heat of summer rolls in. You might attempt to prune back or open up your oak tree a little to allow for some more light to stream through for this year (prune either by Valentine’s Day or wait until July to prune oak to prevent the risk of oak wilt), and then make plans to look around your landscape for a more sunny, suitable spot for your crape myrtle and put it on the calendar to move this November.