pruning crape myrtles - Ask Extension
Our two crapel myrtles are barely blooming when all the others in the neighborhood are in full bloom. Could this be due to pruning?
Knowledgebase
pruning crape myrtles #878989
Asked July 27, 2024, 9:55 AM EDT
Our two crapel myrtles are barely blooming when all the others in the neighborhood are in full bloom. Could this be due to pruning?
Baltimore County Maryland
Expert Response
Crapemyrtles come in many shapes, colors and sizes- from low growers to 30' trees. Most landscapers and homeowners believe that crapemytle need pruning but under ideal conditions where they are planted to suit the site for eventual size, they don't need pruning at all.
The lack of/late flowers on your crapemyrtle could be related to pruning. When was it pruned?
Crapemyrtle bloom on the new growth that is made each year, so the best time to prune them is late winter into early spring. Later than that, you may have flowers forming later into the season, or not at all. Likewise, pruning late in the season encourages new growth that may not have time to 'harden' before cold, winter weather sets in, resulting in injury.
Virginia Tech has a good publication here:
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-451/430-451.html
Christine
The lack of/late flowers on your crapemyrtle could be related to pruning. When was it pruned?
Crapemyrtle bloom on the new growth that is made each year, so the best time to prune them is late winter into early spring. Later than that, you may have flowers forming later into the season, or not at all. Likewise, pruning late in the season encourages new growth that may not have time to 'harden' before cold, winter weather sets in, resulting in injury.
Virginia Tech has a good publication here:
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-451/430-451.html
Christine
Thank you very much, Christine. This is helpful, especially the publication from Virginia Tech.
Julie Morgan
You're welcome.
