How do I bring my crepe myrtle back to life?

Cut off the dead top and let the shoots grow. They’ll grow faster than a congressman’s nose. Select 4-5 well-spaced ones to become the new main trunks and cut off the rest. Your crepe myrtle will grow back free-of-charge and may even bloom this summer.

How do you know when a crepe myrtle is dying?

Signs that your Crepe Myrtle is dying or dead Crepe Myrtles have thin bark, which you can scratch with your fingernail. You can do this to check the health of your tree. Tree care professionals call this the “scratch test.” If the bark underneath is green, your tree is still alive.

Why is my crepe myrtle tree dying?

So, why did it die? The most likely answer is cold damage. I had noticed last summer that the plant didn’t look as healthy as it had in previous years. When temperatures drop below 10 degrees for any length of time, crape myrtle tends to die back down to the ground.

What happens if you don’t prune crepe myrtles?

Many varieties have beautiful bark and growth habits that can be enjoyed all year if trees are not heavily pruned. This unsightly, ugly pruning known as crape murder is not recommended. Once it’s done, it ruins the tree’s graceful natural shape for the rest of its life.

What can kill a crepe myrtle?

Glyphosate. Glyphosate kills virtually any plant it touches. Herbicides containing glyphosate may be painted on freshly cut stumps or sprayed onto the foliage to kill the crape myrtle.

What is the lifespan of a crepe myrtle?

50 years
A crepe myrtle lifespan can exceed 50 years. So that’s the answer to the question “how long do crepe myrtle trees live?” They can live a good, long time with suitable care.

Will crepe myrtle bloom if not pruned?

It is important not to prune the tops of crepe myrtle trees to make them bloom. Topping may yield larger flowers but does not increase the overall volume of blooms. Extreme topping often results in weak growth that tends to bend of break in summer rains.

What month do you prune crepe myrtle trees?

If you do choose to prune your crepe myrtles, pruning should take place in mid-February to avoid winter injury. Pruning should be done only to shape the tree; not to severely control plant height. Pruning is also not necessary for blooming.

Will vinegar kill crepe myrtle?

Topical application of white vinegar to the leaves alone is not enough to completely kill a tree, but killing the leaves prevents the tree from photosynthesizing and transferring carbohydrates to the roots, which can slowly kill it.

Are you supposed to cut back crepe myrtles?

If you do choose to prune your crepe myrtles, pruning should take place in mid-February to avoid winter injury. Pruning should be done only to shape the tree; not to severely control plant height. The seed heads from last year can remain on the plant all year, and you will still get good blooming in the current year.

What’s the best way to trim a crape myrtle?

Cut off suckers from the bottom, rubbing and cross growing branches and branches growing inward. Gradually cut off all side branches from the main base as the tree gets taller. Never leave lone or clustered stubs. Be sure to remove unwanted branches before they get too thick (thickness of a pencil).

How long does a crape myrtle tree last?

That beautiful bark and the elegant trunk and branches that show it off do not develop to the fullest potential when “murdered”. Crape myrtle flowers can last for up to three months, and while it’s true that crape murder does result in larger (but fewer) flowers, the thin branches that result from improper pruning cannot support them.

When to remove seed pods from crape myrtles?

You can remove seed pods if you don’t like the look of them, but it will not affect flowering the following year. Plus it’s a tough job on a larger crape myrtle tree. However, removing green seed pods immediately after summer bloom can encourage a second flush of flowers.

What’s the best way to fix a crape tree?

Rest easy-in most cases you can repair previous poor pruning. It will take a few years to reverse the damage but here’s what to do: Prune off the knobs, leaving clean trunks. For a more natural look, vary the height of the cuts a bit. In spring the trunks will sprout new growth. Select one or two sprouts per trunk only and prune off the rest.