How can I tell if my crepe myrtle is a tree or very over grown crepe myrtle bush?

Question

I moved into a house this summer and in the back is small crepe myrtle tree(bush). It had one very small bloom and that is all. The trunk is small and thin. Could this be a crepe myrtle bush instead of a tree that has just not been cared for? It is about 10ft. tall but very weak looking. How can I tell and what can I do for a healthier look?

Answer 1

A crepe myrtle "tree" is only a bush that has not been trimmed. They are one in the same plant. Normally, they bloom on new growth. This means that one should prune a crepe myrtle to encourage more blooms. Selectively trimming the bush and allowing it to grow taller is what some prefer. Others like to keep them trimmed small where they will bloom more profusely.
I have several that are quite tall (one is over 20 feet tall) and they have quite a span of branches. I can lightly prune the outer edges of these "trees" and garner quite a bit of blooms, all summer. Depending on where you live, determines a good deal about the health of the crepe myrtle. If it's been dry, the tree should be periodically watered. If the soil is poor, you could add nutrients. Sometimes, they just get exposed to too much cold and have a poor growing season the following year.
Lots of stuff to consider, but overall, I think they're beautiful trees that really improve a residential area.

good luck

Answer 2

Hi: The bark of a Crepe Myrtle is smooth. Being ten feet tall I feel it is a tree that has been unattended. Don't panic. You prune Crepe Myrtles in February. Buy a six month slow release nitrogen fertilizer and spread a handful around the base of the tree. Do this again in the spring.

Keep on a watering schedule after you fertilize the tree and see how it does in a couple of weeks.

Good luck to you. If you have been in a drought this summer, many existing trees have struggled. This might be part of it too.

Take a look at my website and see if you can find any other information that may be helpful to you. I will take you to my site map so you can browse through the many different topics.
Kimberly
http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.com/Site.html

Answer 3

I agree with the sunlight theory....if it's ideed in shade, cut it back by one third and move it to full sun and keep it watered until freeze up.....

crepe myrtles come in four distinct sizes... miniatures -18 inches to two feet, dwarf-two ft to six ft, standard-about six to near 12 ft and trees, 15-25 ft tall....that's at maturity.... also, trees that have passed four or five yrs don't send up the little suckers from the base anymore....

you can trim any of them to look 'like' trees, but there's no way a miniature will ever be 25 ft tall!!... lol!....

sunlight is key.... if after moving the crepe to full sun, you don't see a massive improvement in it's number of leaves and stems next spring, I'll be surprised.... feed just before the leaf buds break open then, too... not before.... good luck....

Answer 4

Sounds like it is trying to grow in the shade. It got long and stretched out reaching for the light. If my guess is right, you will need to move it into a position with better light or it will not bloom well or look pretty no matter how you fertilize it. Crepes need full sun.

Answer 5

Click this link for complete plant care:
http://www.cohlmia.com/Crepe.Myrtle.htm