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2007-09-10 14:33:10 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden Garden & Landscape

6 answers

Hi, Winter and Spring is the best time to prune. I have studied the "best time to prune" while I worked for a nursery.

ALL of the professional studies we referenced pointed out that Fall is a detrimental time to prune- the basic explanation for this was that the shrubs and trees studied, when pruned in fall, went back into "Spring" mood and were not turning their cells into a protective or dormant state.

Two of the studies pointed out that warm climate shrubs usually developed some type of disease due to the Fall prune. (I suppose this is because even in warm areas plants have a dormant period).
Cold weather studies pointed out the test subjects grew poorly or died the following summer or the summer after that.

So- Winter or Spring, to answer your question!

2007-09-10 14:54:58 · answer #1 · answered by Jason F 3 · 0 0

We have had crepe myrtles for several years and have pruned alot in our time.

It is safest for the tree to be pruned AFTER it stops flowering and you are left with the seed pods.

Trim the seed pods and little offshoot branching but unlike a lot of inexperienced landscapers, you should NOT prune the tree down to only limbs.

It is more often the case that people will take a crepe myrtle down as much as a fourth to a third in their pruning, saying they need to do this because the plant just takes off so much in the spring. However, this causes it to send out even more growth than it ever would have if it is trimmed this way as a matter of survival as it tries to replenish it's structure.

2007-09-10 23:33:29 · answer #2 · answered by ? 5 · 0 0

you don't HAVE to, you know.... only if there's a reason like it's growing onto the house or there's a branch all out of where it should be, etc.....
I have 120 of 'em.... and some of mine get pruned, some don't.. and none of them are touched until spring....since they leaf out later than most plants, you can wait until the weather is bearable....and not freeze yourself!!!....
of course, dead wood can be removed anytime....
those that do not get pruned do just fine and bloom profusely, too.... if you don't have to why bother?.... and if it's to make one smaller, and you do it yearly, then you've got the wrong size plant in that spot.... it might be better to move that one and get one that fits.....
do your pruning and your fertilizing at about the same time... mine's just before Easter here in zone 7.....

2007-09-11 08:53:52 · answer #3 · answered by meanolmaw 7 · 0 0

Late January, after the holidays, is when I do it. The sap is at it's low point and I never have any new growth until spring. Also, the plants have dropped all of their leaves and the twigs are lighter then.

You can also cut the buds off after the first bloom if you want a second. I have done this but it is too much work for me. Have fun!

2007-09-10 23:49:27 · answer #4 · answered by Texas Cowboy 7 · 0 0

In Oklahoma we prune in spring and cut back to 4" above the ground as they grow back quick.

2007-09-10 22:54:03 · answer #5 · answered by gonecrazytoday 3 · 0 0

last yr a landscaper told me to prune them in the fall when it started getting colder.

2007-09-10 21:44:46 · answer #6 · answered by KM 3 · 0 1

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