What comes to mind when you hear the term “crepe myrtle”?
In my case, it takes me back to mother’s home in the southern part of United States. She considers these bushes as an enduring attribute of that region and indeed as beautiful adornments to southern gardens, they certainly are hardy plants.
If you prefer “no maintenance trees,” then crepe myrtle could be what you need. Here is how to plant them in your garden or yard:
Growing Conditions for Crepe Myrtle
Like any other tree, different types of crepe myrtles do have certain differences. For starters, this plant species does come in 50 varieties ranging from shrubs to fully grown trees. So buying one for a specific area should match the intended space!
Do not add a small sapling where you expect a larger shrub – or place a large specimen where only modest one should fit.
Some cultivars are more refined and easier available through commercial nurseries – while others still thrive unrestrained in tropical and warmer climates.
The requirement for full sunlight comes as no surprise since the crepe myrtle is accustomed to warmer regions. The plant also requires well-draining soil.
Planting zones six through ten accommodate this plant as a perennial. In zone six, it may die back to ground level during winter, but returns faithfully in spring persists without problems returning year after year.
For those living in cooler zones or with limited outdoor space, the good news is that crepe myrtle can be planted both inground and in containers.
Acknowledged as a southern staple, this versatile shrub endures various conditions and reinvents itself year after year providing beauty to our landscapes which earns its no-fuss reputation.
How to Plant Crepe Myrtle
To grow crepe myrtle there are four methods; we will discuss three of them here and the last one later on in text.
Most people like starting by purchasing a plant from the nursery which is the most common method of planting.
Once you have picked up your seedling, ensure that it has direct sunlight complementing well drained soil and pick colloquial locations that match this criteria.
Dig a hole in the following location. The hole must be wide, three times the width of the plant but deep enough to fit the root ball comfortably.
Insert the plant into place within the hole and add compost simultaneously. This promotes adequate moisture retention in the soil.
When all is set, back fill around the base of crepe myrtle with soil. Give it a good soak and then apply mulch at the base both as a hydrophilic barrier and to keep weeds away.
This method can be replicated when planting in containers too, just ensure that it is wider than the plant. Place quality soil in before placing your crepe myrtle; cover soil when done and give another deep watering.
Also advisable is adding mulch around plant container for keeping moisture locked in longer.
Another common method we recommend for growing them would be propagating from root cuttings. Early spring is generally best for this with established plants being dug up first.
Place the cuttings into a pot filled with loamy soil or sand The pot should be kept warm and receive lots is sunlight.
You should water the roots sufficiently during the next weeks so that they are able to generate their own root systems. Specifically, the roots need to be left in pots for two to three months so they can adapt. At this point, feel free to transplant them.
Alternatively, you may choose to directly put the root cuttings into perennial beds. The depth should be four inches, and ensure a spacing of six inches between each cutting.
Making sure that the roots receive enough light, warmth and water will enable them over time to suk develop their root system fully and sprout as stable plants. Please remember adequate watering while roots mature.
Lastly in this section, we will use stems from older plants to grow crepe myrtle using stems from older plants up discussed above.
Examine an old crepe myrtle. Determine where new growth that has nodes joins older branches and cut where it joins aged fork, ensuring an eight inch stem length minimum.
To maximize successful propagation, make sure each cutting has a minimum of three nodes. From the three leaves you prepared earlier on the cutting, discard everything else.
Take the cutting and sprinkle some rooting hormone on it. Then pot it in sand to ensure optimal growth. For the next couple of months, provide ample sunlight, warmth, and water consistently.
After this period, you should be able to move your cuttings into larger containers, or directly into a garden bed after they exhibit sufficient root development and growth.
Here are a few techniques for you to consider while adding crepe myrtle to your landscape design. It is an easy addition that will enhance beauty and can be inexpensive as well.
How to Care for Crepe Myrtle
Crepe myrtle requires simple care which includes provided water, fertilizer, deadheading, and pruning. Knowing how best to meet these needs will set up gorgeous as well as stressed out plants.
To start off with crepe myrtle: ensure watered regularly would need. Key point here is that soil must not be soggy otherwise root rot is bound to cause trouble for your plants.
This problem can be mitigated if planting vertisol or loamy soils which drain well while having deep watering techniques where watering happens on fewer days but for longer periods of time.
It enables the plant to receive the right quantity of water without getting soggy. In this case, moisture would be absorbed during the waiting period before the next watering session.
Applying mulch around the base of plants may also assist in reducing evaporation and retaining moisture for longer periods.
Next on my list is fertilization, which I intend to carry out carefully. An application of a slow-releasing fertilizer once a year should suffice for the plant’s health.
You may even apply fertilizer again in spring as the crepe myrtle comes out of dormancy. This will help replenish whatever nutrients might have been used and bolster surplus nutrients from the previous season.
Most gardeners doesn’t seem to expect deadheading a bush or tree when they plan it out. You don’t have to deadhead crepe myrtles but doing so will promote a second bloom.
One thing to keep in mind is that these blooms are often not as vibrant as the first set, whether you choose to perform this maintenance task is entirely up to you.
The last step in caring for crepe myrtle properly is pruning, which requires special attention because it’s best done only during winter months.
New growth is the only attribute that allows this plant species to bloom, so if you wait for it to produce new growth, then you’ll be removing that year’s flowers.
As a result, dormant pruning is suggested in this case. When you prune your shrub, ensure that shaping is your primary purpose. While it may not require attention every year, persistent neglect may lead to an unruly appearance and pair of shears would become necessary to bring them back to the size and shape desired.
Aside from these instructions, there are no additional requirements needed from the gardener for maintaining a healthy vibrant crepe myrtle that continuously enhances the beauty of any landscape.
Garden Pests and Diseases for Crepe Myrtle
Focus must be directed towards pest control when utilising crepe myrtle since despite being low maintenance and beautiful they can be infested with pests or diseases.
Aphids pose a serious threat to gardeners as they are considered the greatest risk. Not only will they feed off your plants sap, but they can also sap out vital nutrients leading towards disease symptoms.
Aphids are responsible for producing sooty mold as a byproduct of their metabolic waste. To eliminate both problems, applying insecticide on infested shrubs is encouraged until results are achieved.
Crepe myrtle is susceptible to fungal disease. The most concerning are powdery mildew and leaf spot. Powdery mildew resembles sugar that has been sprinkled on top of your plant.
Leaf spot starts as dark spots on leaves and ends with black mold taking over. Both diseases can be cured using fungicide treatment.
The third disease you should know about is root rot. It develops when a plant is placed in soil that does not drain well, beating this disease requires placing your crepe myrtle in the right location.
Having an appropriate planting site will improve your chances of avoiding pests and having an overall healthy plant if treated for minor health issues so you should have a very enjoyable gardening experience.
The process of growing crepe myrtle trees is not intricate. With selecting the right growing methods tailored to your preferences, ensuring adequate space for growth, and meeting basic needs, caring for this shrub should be trouble-free.
Don’t Murder Your Crepe Myrtle!
An alarming number of people believe that crepe myrtles must be pruned every year in order to keep the plant shrubby and small. There are quite a few examples around my neighborhood where I see the remains of a tree slaughtered to what seems like just the trunk.
Here are two stunning quotations that capture what is both right and wrong about pruning your crepe myrtle tree, along with two “guides” accurately titled for each.
“Crapemyrtles are among the toughest, most adaptable, and showiest plants that we can grow in our Texas landscapes: They have very few pests; they bloom all summer long; and they require no supplemental irrigation.”
“For some reason (which has so far eluded me), this seems to inspire the bulk of ‘gardeners,’ landscape crews, and other ill-educated professionals working in Texas to perpetrate this annual atrocity.”
“The phenomenon referred to as “Crepe murder” occurs when bored retired gentlemen, armed with saws and loppers merrily emerge from garages following football season wearing ceaselessly radiant smiles while euphorically shouting ‘this is my time too!’. Using zero creativity along their butchery, they shave down glorious majestic crepe myrtles into box-stumps – ruining many for life.”