Anything else for this young crape myrtle?

9 years ago

HI all!

Last summer I bought a natchez crape myrtle from a big box store. I loved it but it wasn't until the leaves dropped that I noticed it had been crape murdered...I guess to make it look fuller. Booo.

I thought about removing some branches from each stalk but ended up leaving it.

This spring, the branches started drooping bad, they're not growing up, etc... last night a branch broke after heavy rain. The branches are just too thin and there aren't even flowers yet.

Tonight I thinned the branches and added some garden tape to help support the branches and maybe train them to grow more upright.

Can you guys think of anything else that may help him? I know they're pretty resilient. I also thought of crape murdering below the nubs and then choosing one or two branches per stalk but that seems dramatic and I'm hoping I can help him in his current state.

I attached a pic of the tree after tonights work and the gnarly nubs.

Thank you!

Featured Answer

Logan L Johnson

9 years ago

I bought a black diamond crepe myrtle last year, and it had been butchered much like this one. It did not bloom, but I did thin it out and tip prune it this winter.

Before:

My Landscape · More Info

After (about 2 months ago, looks really good now):

My Landscape · More Info

If it stops raining I will go out and take a new photo since it has all of its leaves. Also, all crepes bend over when they flower. The green tape should prevent them from breaking.

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Comments (8)

Logan L Johnson
9 years ago
Thin each of them to the 2 most upright and strong shoots. The garden tape may be helpful, but do not leave it any longer than until this time last year. Also, remove that crossing branch so that it doesn't cause problems in the future.
Julianne Stewart
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you Logan!
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Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
9 years ago
You may also want to cut off any developing flowers...at least this summer. They will weigh it down, especially when they get wet.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
recent transplant ... need to grow roots.. needs all its leaves to turn sunshine into plant food ... i would not prune much of anything off ...

stake it properly ...

it always helps to let us know where you are ...

its not a fert issue ....

nice boat

ken
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
oh.. i never expect bloom the year after a large transplant ... if it happens.. great.. if not.. im good with it ... its supposed to be working on root growth ....ken
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Ken, it's a crape myrtle. They live to bloom. Especially in zone 8 heat. Natchez is a fast growing variety.
tlbean2004
9 years ago
The first year that i planted my crape myrtle it did flower. There were buds already forming in the pot. But the blooms did weigh the branches down. The did not break though. Now that the stems are thicker and bigger they hold the blooms up with no problem.