how to prune a crepe myrtle tree
Start by removing diseased limbs and. I normally try to trim Crepe Myrtles every two years but these tress went sev.
You can prune to remove the suckers that come up from the trees base.
. It is defined by pruning off. Prune out branches that cross each other and rub together. If youre making an arch with two or more trees prune out the branches that detract from the arch.
This careful method will reward you richly over the years. This practice is often referred to as crepe murder. Topping may yield larger flowers but does not increase the overall volume of blooms.
Prune out dead branches. Hand shears help with cutting smaller pieces of the tree loppers help by removing slightly larger limbs and the hand saw is for the biggest pieces of the crepe myrtle you intend to remove. In this video I demonstrate how I trim a crepe myrtle tree that has overgrown.
Ideally youll want to leave 3-5 main trunks to mature over time. It helps to eliminate deadwood. How will the remaining branches grow.
Extreme topping often results in weak growth that tends to bend of break in summer rains. It sounds so basic but dont rush this first step explains Dean Dietrich horticulturist at Lewis Ginter. Crape myrtles have the potential to be wonderful small trees if they arent chopped to their knees annually.
Pruning is done in winter when the plant is dormant between the months of December and February. Remove branches that are too close together or that cross or rub each other. Loppers are used for bigger branches and may be helpful when pruning your crape myrtle tree You will need a pair of good quality hand pruners to clip branches up to one-half inch in diameter.
It is important not to prune the tops of crepe myrtle trees to make them bloom. Clean your tools with a bleach or alcohol mixture before you make any cuts. Many well-intentioned gardeners wrongly believe that cutting crepe myrtle branches down to the trunk is the correct way to encourage future growth and flower production.
Put the chainsaw away and only use hand shears loppers and a hand saw. Here are the downsides to pruning a crape myrtle back to an ugly 3- to 4-foot nub every year. Each plant is different.
Loppers are used for branches up to an inch and half thick. You should prune to remove the limbs that rub against one another. You should prune to get rid of twigs and limbs that tend to grow back towards the center of your crepe myrtle tree.
The first step is removing any lower limbs or suckers thinner than a pencil. You may need a pruning saw for bigger branches and trunks. Pruners are good for small branches up to 34 inches in diameter.
Cut them back to the ground using hand-clippers loppers or a pruning saw. Luckily crape myrtles are resilient and can tolerate the topping or shearing that some folks insist on giving them. The results of poor pruning.
Properly pruning you crape myrtle will maximize blooms promote new growth and give your plant a great shape. Pruning a crepe myrtle step-by-step Step 1. You want all of your branching to occur on the top quarter of the tree.
Consider which branches can you do without. Pick the right tool for the pruning you want to do. Choose loppers for branches 34 inch to 1 12 inches in diameter.
The second step is to thin out branches in the upper part of the tree or shrub. Use a saw for large branches over 1 12 inch in diameter. If you have a large overgrown crepe myrtle that has never been shaped these same guidelines apply.
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