I've heard that to make a crate myrtle fuller, you can cut the limbs. How does this work, and what time of year is best to do it?
2006-08-13 06:48:58 · 9 answers · asked by rgreenfi 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
Sorry..I mean Crape Myrtle!!
2006-08-13 06:53:02 · update #1
A Yahoo search for "crepe Myrtle care" (include the quotation marks in the search box) yields 156 results. If you do the same search, and are willing to spend a little time exploring, I'm sure that you will quickly find the information you seek.
Good luck with your search.
2006-08-16 01:32:38 · answer #1 · answered by exbuilder 7 · 9⤊ 0⤋
Just know that usually every branch you cut will make two branches grow out from it. Make your cuts right above a joint(where leaves come out). Crape Myrtles are blooming here everywhere. If yours is, you might be able to get a second flush of bloom by cutting it when it is almost finished. Maybe cut every other branch.
Good luck :-)
2006-08-13 18:13:06 · answer #2 · answered by prillville 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't advice cutting it too much, if at all. Too many people just 'top' off the top of their crepe myrtles thinking that it will help. Many call this practice 'crepe murder' because it does more harm than good to the plant. Just have some patience and it will grow fuller over time.
2006-08-13 07:25:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you mean crepe myrtle, trim them back in the fall after they have finished blooming. In the spring they will come back fuller and with more blossoms.
2006-08-13 06:51:32 · answer #4 · answered by Emm 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is not so important when you prune as how you prune. I gather that you are most interested in getting the tree to spread out and grow laterally as opposed to the new growth going up. Look for limbs with twigs growing laterally out from the tree and prune out the terminal growth going up. Keep trying encourage the lateral growth around the tree.
2006-08-13 07:59:14 · answer #5 · answered by murphy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
After the flowers turn into berries you can prune the berries and it will re-flower. That doesn't answer how to prune it but I thought I would add that info if you wanted it. Especially since it should be flowering NOW. How to prune it will come into play over the winter.
PS make sure it is well feed with proper nutrients.
2006-08-13 07:03:15 · answer #6 · answered by John G 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cut them in February . Anything smaller than a pencil goes
2006-08-13 06:57:19 · answer #7 · answered by litespeed2rw 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's "Crepe" Myrtle, not "Crate Myrtle."
2006-08-13 06:51:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I always cut mine in the spring
2006-08-13 06:50:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋