The critical question is: How much direct sunlight do they get?

Are you sure that the green things aren't seed pods forming, and that your plants have not already bloomed before you purchased and planted them?

Over head watering is not a particular problem with crapemyrtles. The powdery mildew that can be such an issue with some species is not spread or made worse by water. You are right about the fertilization.

Can't answer about the watering.....only you can be the judge of whether the plants are getting enough or not. Three times a week seems a lot to water established plants, however. I'd turn the system back to a more appropriate schedule and hand water the crapes a couple of times a week, deeply.

Full sun, right?

Thank you both, eldo 1960 and rhizo 1 for responding to my question regarding my DCMs. The plants do get direct sunlight so that is a good thing. I'm glad to know that over head watering is not a problem with DCMs. Rhizo 1 its funny you mentioned about a possibility of the DCMs having already bloomed before I purchased and planted them. A friend of mine at work said the same thing to me but because I am a beginner at planting was not really sure if this was good or bad. What are seed pods and what purpose do they have? I just checked them and some of the pods are opening and I can see the flowers. I guess I will just have to wait and see how they will do. I've turned Zone 1 of my irrigation sytem to run only 1 day a week. Once again thank you. Now I will try my green thumb (HA HA HA) at Junipers (Procumbens - Nana (Dwarf). Wish me luck!!!!!

Flower buds and seed capsules are quite different. The seed capsules are formed after the flowers are pollinated and the begin to fade away. Crapemyrtle seed capsules are green in the beginning (and could be mistaken for buds by the newbies) but then turn brown as they mature on the plant. In the winter, they open up and scatter the zillions of seeds in the wind.

I think that these seeds are a nice winter feature and like to see them remain on the plant for the duration. They will fall off as the plant begins to grow in the spring.

Thanks again rhizo 1. YES I AM A NEWBIE at planting :-). I really do want to learn as much as I can about all different types of plants, knowing which plants to plant to compliment each other as well as how to take care of them especially since my husband and I have only been in our newly built home for 6 months. We had the front and sides of the home professionally landscapes with azaleas; sedums, hostas, salvia and dwarf russian sage and they are all perenials and they are doing great. I am just trying to test my...EXPERTISE :-) at some additional plantings and I want to make sure the plants I have planted (DCMs)will survive. I know I can do this so once again WISH ME LUCK!!!!

Everybody starts out as 'newbies'. ;-)

MY CREPE MYRTLEs ARE BLOOMING......I cannot believe it. Isn't it a little late (September). My husband was outside tonight and he called for me to come out. When I did he told me to look at the CMs and low and behold the buds which I thought were seed pods have opened and you can see the beautiful pink flower coming out. It had to be to much water I was giving them for my questions to the forum.

> It had to be to much water I was giving them for my questions to the forum.

More likely they were just taking some time to get those flowers ready for you. Yes, you were watering too frequently, you're better off with your new schedule, but apparently you did not damage the plants. CMs are late bloomers - that's one big reason most of us grow them.

ambitiousbeginner:

What type of dwarf crape myrtles do you have? For example, chickasaw, pokomoke, etc. Or, how wide are yours.