How to Prune a Crepe Myrtle

Pruning crepe myrtles is important for keeping them healthy. Also known as crape myrtles, these plants require annual pruning in order to continue growing healthy and strong. Annual pruning of crepe myrtles helps control excess growth, removes sick or dead areas of the plant and promotes vigorous and attractive branches on the shrub.

What are Crepe Myrtles?

Crepe myrtles are a type of garden shrub that produce white flowers and bloom on their new growth branches. This type of shrub can be used as a garden centerpiece or to edge a flower bed or another area of the garden. Proper care and pruning of the crepe myrtle will ensure that the shrub produces many new blooms each growing season. Crepe myrtles are hardy plants that grow well in many areas and bloom throughout the summer.

When to Prune a Crepe Myrtle

Prune the shrub in early spring. Wait until after the last frost to prune, however, as the plant will begin producing new growth from the pruned areas, and this growth can be killed off by cold weather. Maintaining a crepe myrtle requires knowledge of how and when the plant begins to grow. Frost is especially damaging to new plant growth, and it is important to time pruning properly.

Examine the trunk and structure of the crepe myrtle for young or weak branches, and remove them with pruning shears. Be sure to wear gloves during the pruning process to avoid cuts and injury while working. Cut off young or weak branches at the trunk of the myrtle plant to slow new growth from branches that could weaken the bush.

Keeping Crepe Myrtles Healthy

Examine the shrub as a whole for any weak old growth branches, or branches that show signs of damage from the winter. Winter damage can cause bark and branches to split, sag or break off. These branches can rot and spread fungus to the rest of the plant, or provide a place for harmful insects to live. Cut off damaged old-growth branches. Use pruning shears to cut these branches off at the base of the plant.

Thin out the crepe myrtle by removing any branches that unbalance the structure or appearance of the plant, or prevent lower branches from receiving sunlight. Trim the edges of the plant to give the crepe myrtle a rounded, smooth appearance and keep it neat. Trim the ends of old growth branches to promote the further growth of branches and the production of new flowers.

Crepe myrtles are hardy, healthy plants that can tolerate a wide range of growing conditions. Pruning is one of the most basic and important things a gardener can do in order to keep the plant growing and producing beautiful white flowers each year.