Crape Myrtle Tree Care
The crape myrtle tree is great for Florida’s climate throughout north, central, and southern regions. Often used in landscapes as a beautiful tree with lots of color when blooming. Proper crape myrtle tree care is needed for good health and growth. Flowering begins in June continues through the summer on into early fall.
Clusters of buds on the tips of branches produce hundreds of 1-2 inch blooming flowers. Crape myrtle tree types consist of the colors, red, white, lavender or pink, and purple. Leaves are 1-4 inches long and turn red in spring, dark green in summer. In northern Florida tree leaves will turn yellow, orange, red in the fall.
Tree Placement
The time to plant container-grown crape myrtle trees is during early summer when in active growth. Balled or burlapped crape myrtles should be planted while dormant. Place in full sun for they do poorly in shaded areas. Plant in well drained soil for they don’t like soil that stays wet and soggy. Trees need good air circulation to avoid having problems. Crape myrtle trees have a low salt tolerance level, so do not plant close to sea walls or seaside locations.
Watering Crape Myrtles
A newly planted tree needs to be watered regularly for the first three weeks, for good root establishment. When established watering every two weeks is sufficient for crape myrtle tree care. When fully mature crape myrtle trees are drought tolerant and can go without watering for a month, if there is no rainfall or problems with irrigation.
Fertilizer Crape Myrtle Tree Care
Crape myrtle trees when mature do not need to be fertilized very often. When placed in the middle of lawns they receive nutrients from lawn fertilization. Mature trees in other locations need one application a year in spring. However newly planted trees require fertilization in the beginning up to three times the first year. Early crape myrtle tree care will help stimulate growth for young trees.
Crape Myrtle Tree Care For Pests and Problems
Primary pests are powdery mildew and the aphid insect which produces “Black Sooty Mold” . A program of spraying a systemic pesticide and fungicide for crape myrtle tree care can help control problems. Regular inspections will detect any problems early, to avoid spreading. Sprays of insecticidal soaps and horticultural oil will stop aphids on contact.
Aphid insects are pale yellow in color found underneath the leaves and are attracted to new growth. Infested leaves will become distorted and the new growth is stunted. Aphids suck the juices out of stems, and eventually can severely injure the tree. Aphids reproduce quickly and will spread to other trees close by, without immediate insecticidal crape myrtle tree care.
Aphids secrete droplets containing a sugary solution called ” Honey Dew “, which produces ” Black Sooty Mold ” on leaves and stems. It interferes with the leaves from getting sunlight hindering photosynthesis.
Powdery mildew is caused by a fungus and is seen first on new shoots. Then it spreads to the leaves, stems, and flowers. They will also become distorted and stunted from this problem. When severe leaves will drop and buds fail to open. Trees planted in shade and in locations with poor air circulation will have problems with powdery mildew. Also continuous wetting of leaves from irrigation staying wet and do not dry from sun can cause it to occur.
The crape myrtle tree is one of the most common part a Florida landscape. Trees can be seen along our roads, highways, and parks. During the summer with loads of blooming colorful flowers, they are attractive and eye catching. With good crape myrtle tree care they will offer a beautiful setting for years.
Kurt Kmetz
Pruning Crape Myrtle Trees
Crape Myrtle trees require very little pruning. They do not need to be cut back by chopping off the tops of the tree as shown in image below. If the tree is cut back to the same height every year, topping can cause large knuckles to form. Pruning Crape Myrtle Trees severely or hard can induce excess vegetation growth such as sprouting at the base, and fewer flowers. Light pruning is recommended by the Florida Cooperative Extension Service.
Pruning Crape Myrtle Trees Correctly
Pruning should be done in January or February before new growth begins, so the tree can develop properly by the summer. This will ensure the natural beauty it will display when healthy and vigorous. Pruning Crape Myrtle Trees while dormant will not interfere with blooming, since buds form from new growth.
Prune off any branches that are dead and old seed pods left from last summer. DO Not cut back all branches to the same height by rounding it off. This will ruin the natural form of a Crape Myrtle tree.
Pruning Crape Myrtle Trees is done by, slowly removing one-by-one all side (lateral) branches up to a height of 5-feet or so. Height can depend upon the size of the tree so generally it will be halfway up. Remove any branches in the canopy that are crossing or rubbing another branch. Cut off branches growing inward towards the center of the tree. All cuts should be made to the trunk (where the branch joins the trunk), or a side branch that is facing out. Sprouts arising from the base of the tree should be removed while still green. Sprouts can be removed anytime of the year as they grow.
Conclusion:
Some types of Crape Myrtle trees can grow to be very large trees. If the location you plan to plant at does not have enough space, then choose a type of Crape Myrtle that will fit at mature size. This will avoid having to chop off the tops every year. Pruning Crape Myrtle Trees the right way assures good health and for them to grow to the shape desired.
Kurt Kmetz
