What To Plant With Crepe Myrtle

What to plant with crepe myrtle

Compliment Your Crepe Myrtles

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How far apart should crepe myrtles be planted?

To create a look where the canopies of the plants will grow together and provide shade, plant Medium Crape Myrtles 6'-10' apart, and Standard (Tree) Crape Myrtles 8'-12' apart. For a more individual plant look, plant Dwarfs 10' apart and Standards 15' apart.

What time of year do you plant crepe myrtle trees?

Late fall to early spring is the best time to plant. First, learn some information about the lifespan and growth of your tree. Crepe myrtles range in size from dwarf selections (less than three feet tall) to some that can reach as tall as 30 feet.

Will grass grow under crepe myrtle?

Turf is a wonderful feature in lawns, just not directly under crape myrtles. Grass does an excellent job of scavenging nutrients and water that otherwise would benefit the crape myrtle above.

Should you put mulch around crepe myrtles?

When planting crape myrtles, gardeners should install a layer of mulch about 3 to 5 inches deep in an area twice as large as the planting hole. Insect damage is a frequent problem on crape myrtles and aphids cause much of that damage.

Where is the best place to plant a crepe myrtle?

The site should be in the bright, hot sun: full or partial sun (6hrs min). No heavy shade for Crape Myrtles. If the site gets sun for part of the day then it's fine. But they do best in Full, Hot Sun.

What happens if you don't prune crepe myrtles?

It should also be noted that some types of crape myrtles, if left unpruned, can be expected to produce the most flowers. As the degree of pruning increases, the number of flowers tends to decrease. However, the flower clusters in pruned crape myrtles tend to be larger than those from unpruned plants.

Do crepe myrtles need to be trimmed every year?

Pruning to Maintain Size If you have a large crepe myrtle tree growing in a position that doesn't accommodate its size, then you'll need to undertake annual pruning to keep it at a manageable size. The best practice to ensure good shape and health is to remove all of the tips of the tree.

How do you winterize a crape myrtle?

It is advisable to wrap young (1 year or less) and small Crepe Myrtle trees. Wrap burlap around the branches and then add an insulating filler such as leaves or straw to provide additional protection. Use bush jackets for dwarf plants. Bush jackets are reusable insulating covers that cover the plant.

What is the lifespan of a crepe myrtle tree?

Lifespan – When planted in full sun and fertile soil, Crepe Myrtles can live well beyond 50 years. In fact, dotted along the southeastern landscape, it is common to come across specimens over 100 years old.

How long does it take a crepe myrtle to get established?

Your tree is too young Your crepe myrtle may not be blooming if it is only a young tree – it can take 3-5 years for a tree to become established enough to flower. This may sound like a long time, but bear in mind that the trees take 5-10 years to mature, and 20-50 years to reach their ultimate size.

What month Should I trim my crepe myrtles?

February is a good time to prune crape myrtles. It should be done before fresh growth appears in March. Its toughness makes crape myrtle a popular plant.

Can you top off crepe myrtle trees?

Topping crape myrtles is not recommended, as this involves removing branches, leaves and blooms from the top down, leaving only bare trunks. As a result, this weakens the tree's immune responses, making it more susceptible to diseases and pests.

How close to a fence can you plant a crepe myrtle?

If you are planting a row of crape myrtles to create a privacy screen, you'll want to leave at least three feet from your property line or fence. Five feet is recommended for larger types, as you'll want to ensure you have control over the growth and pruning of your tree.

What happens if you top a crepe myrtle?

Topping a crape myrtle destroys the natural balance and beauty of the tree. Improperly trimmed multi-trunk crape myrtles have weakend immune responses and cannot fight off disease and insects as well. As the topping continues, the crape myrtles can respond by growing more trunks, worsening the problem.

Should you cut seed pods off crepe myrtles?

A: The short answer is no. You do not need to cut off the balls at the end of the branches. These are seed pods that formed from the flowers last summer. They do not hurt the tree and will not affect flowering this summer.

Do crepe myrtles need a lot of water?

Crepe myrtle likes a medium amount of water and prefers consistently moist soils where it can get it. However, once established, it is quite drought-tolerant and will subsist on a deep watering – to a depth of 6 inches or so – once or twice per month, reports Wilson Brothers Gardens.

How tall should a crepe myrtle be?

Dwarf varieties only grow to a height of 4 feet or less. Semi-Dwarf varieties grow 4 to 8 feet tall. Large or Tree Crapemyrtle reaches a height of 10 to 20 feet. By choosing a suitably-sized variety for your location, you will eliminate the need for heavy pruning.

Do crepe myrtle roots grow down or out?

Crepe myrtle roots do not sink taproots deep into the ground or send lateral roots out to crack anything in their path. In fact, the entire crepe myrtle root system is shallow and fibrous, spreading out horizontally up to three times as far as the canopy is wide.

Can a crepe myrtle be a bush or a tree?

Crapemyrtle (Crape Myrtle)Lagerstroemia indica. The common crapemyrtle is a deciduous, small to medium sized shrub or small tree with a variable, moderately dense habit, often multi-stemmed form.