Crepe Myrtle Care
This species ofLagerstroemiais generally a lower maintenance selection.
As always, it all starts with planning and selecting the right location.
The rest of the care is all about site conditions and some basic maintenance.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Be prepared for it to grow up to 25-30 ft. tall.
Topping crepe myrtles is such a common mistake it has been dubbed “crepe murder.”
Crepe myrtle needs full sun to thrive.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Anything less and you will notice a big fall off on blossoms.
However, it does get finicky with its soil moisture.
You will also want to avoid very rich soil since this produces more foliage than the desired flowers.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Water your crepe with two to three gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter.
Wetting the foliage during watering invites powdery mildew.
To combat this, consider pruning all branches to the soil level.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Fertilizer
You will want only to fertilize your crepe myrtle very lightly or avoid it completely.
Supplemental fertilizers tend to increase foliage growth which in turn inhibits bloom production.
If you better use a fertilizer, choose a slow-release fertilizer with high nitrogen content.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The content can be found byreading the NPK formulation.
Types of Lagerstroemia Indica
Lagerstroemia indicais just one plant of a genus containing 50 or so species.
Crepe myrtles bloom on new wood, so pruning in the winter or early spring will promote prolific blooming.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
A single trunk creates the stunning visual of the peeling bark that makes theLagerstroemia indicashine even in the winter.
The best way to deal with these issues is, of course, prevention.
Yearly treatment with a general fungicide can also reduce the risk of an infected plant.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
It depends on the cultivar and how you wish to prune and train your plant.
Yes, crepe myrtles make excellent hedges, though they do require regular pruning.
If you choose a different species ofLagerstroemia,you’re free to even find evergreen crepe myrtles.
