![]() Louis Cincinnati Philadelphia Columbia, Mo. I observed healthy flowering plants in St. is an essential flowering shrub and small tree in Zones 6-9, but the genus is now becoming common further North. Some of the popular hybrids are: ‘Tuskarora’, ‘Siren Red’, ‘Dynamite’.Lagerstroemia spp. faueri hybrids – These hybrids are completely resistant to powdery mildew and are more hardy than the common crape myrtle, so you can grow them in the zone 6 as well. indica – Also known as the common crape myrtle, this species is the most popular among crape myrtles. However, there are many selection and hybrids that come in a wide range of flower colors, sizes, and hardiness. The two most popular crape myrtle species are the common crape myrtle (L. Choose a single dominant stem and regularly prune away other stems at the base. If you’d like a single-stem tree, start pruning while the plant is still young. Remove any excess stems and branches in the middle of the plant to allow better circulation and avoid pest infestation. Cut just above the bud facing the direction you want the branches to grow. Remove tangled branches and make space for each branch to grow. Cut back the unnecessary stems and leave just a few main trunks. Instead, just thin your crape myrtle.įirst, remove suckers, low-growing stems, and any dead or week branches. Since crape myrtles carry their blooms on new growth, you should remove old stems in the late winter or the early spring while the plant is still dormant.Īvoid chopping the top of the plant (so-called ‘crape myrtle murder’). Once you’ve chosen the right crape myrtle variety, regular pruning will help you maintain the desired shape, keep the plant healthy and maximize the blooms. If you’d like a single-stem trunk, purchase a single-stem plant to start with. If you’d like a smaller tree, don’t purchase a tall variety. It’s highly important to purchase an adequate variety to avoid stressing and murdering a plant. Do you want a single-stem trunk or multi-stem crape myrtle? Do you want a small tree or a taller one? Do you want a crape myrtle bush? Also, Apply a high-nitrogen fertilizer in the spring.īefore planting a crape myrtle, be sure what are your needs. You can test your soil using a soil test kit. Soil and Fertilization: Since crape myrtles love slightly acidic soil, be sure to keep the soil level between 5.5 to 7.5 pH.However, young plants should be watered once per week or even twice if the conditions are very hot and dry. Watering: Crape myrtles are extremely drought-tolerant so they don’t have any special water requirements once they are established.Once the plant is established, taking care of crape myrtle is quite easy: The plant should establish the root system before the frost arrives (if planted in fall) or summer heats hits (if planted in spring). Put the plant in the hole deep as the nursery container, but twice as wide. ![]() Plant crape myrtle in the fall or early spring. If the soil is too alkaline, the foliage may turn yellow. ![]() However, they prefer slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5 to 7.5). Not only your crepe myrtle will thrive well in these conditions, but will also have more blooms.Ĭrape myrtle will thrive in almost any type of soil – sandy, clay or loamy. They love sunny positions with at least six hours of sun per day, so choose a planting spot that will give them a plenty of sun. ![]() Where, When and How to Plant Crape MyrtleĬrape myrtles are native to tropical and subtropical regions and are extremely heat-tolerant. One of the best things about crape myrtles is that they are fast-growers. They are also suitable for growing in containers. ![]() You can also choose tall varieties that grow over 30, or you can go for dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties. They can be grown as single-stem trunks, or multi-trunk trees. But besides their showy flowers that last throughout the entire summer (in some varieties until the first frost), crape myrtles offer a year-round interest – the foliage provides the interest during the fall, while the shedding bark has an attractive appearance during the winter.Ĭrape myrtles are commonly used in landscaping with various designing possibilities. The genus consists of around 50 species and hundreds of selected cultivars of deciduous trees and shrubs that are cultivated in warm climates.Ĭrape myrtles are mainly grown for their long-lasting flowers with the color varying from white, lilac, pink, purple, red and many other shades. If you’d like to give crape myrtle a go, take a look at this useful care guide.Ĭrape myrtle (or crape myrtle) are summer-flowering trees and shrubs of the Lagerstroemia genus. Crape myrtle can be grown as a tree or a shrub, while the flowers come in a wide range of colors. Known as the ‘Lilac of the south’, crape myrtle is grown for its flowers that have a very long bloom in the summer. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |