There are few summer sights more iconic than a crepe myrtle in full bloom. In colorful hues like pink, violet, and red, crepe myrtles are a favorite of gardeners looking for a low maintenance flowering tree. They grow easily throughout the South, filling yards with months of vibrant blooms.
Some gardeners line their driveway with a stately row of nearly kept crepe myrtles, while others prefer the look of a flowering tree springing out of a cottage garden. But, whether you want your crepe myrtle to reach towards the sky or maintain a more shrub-like appearance, some annual pruning is usually necessary.
Want to make sure you prune your crepe myrtles at just the right time? Here’s the best time to cut back crepe myrtles and what to do if you miss the window.
- Tammy Sons is the founder and CEO of TN Nursery in Altamont, Tennessee.
When To Cut Back Crepe Myrtles
While some gardeners may assume that the minute a crepe myrtle’s branches are bare, it’s time to start pruning, it’s best to resist the urge to cut back a crepe myrtle in the fall as soon as the leaves have fallen. Because crepe myrtles bloom on new growth and don’t begin sprouting that new growth until early spring, there’s no need to rush.
Instead, wait until after the holidays to begin thinking about how you want to prune the crepe myrtles in your garden. “The best time to cut back your crepe myrtles is late winter, anywhere during January or February, before any new growth begins to sprout,” says Sons.
Pruning your crepe myrtles too early can actually have a couple of negative impacts. First, you’ll remove any of the buffer between your plant and a harsh winter season. For example, if there’s a bad frost, it will damage the ends of the branches first. If those branches have already been pruned, you’re putting more of the plant at risk. And, second, a pruned crepe myrtle simply leaves you with unattractive stumps all winter long.
A crepe myrtle that’s been cut all the way back to its trunk is a common sight in the winter. Gardeners often think this is what the tree needs and, because it rarely hurts the plant, they keep doing it. But this “crepe murder,” as it’s called, is unnecessary. All the plant needs is a light trim to keep it the desired size and shape.
Other Steps To Prepare Crepe Myrtles For Winter
Some gardeners also prepare their crepe myrtles for extreme winter temperatures. Sons says, “To prepare crepe myrtles for winter and the cold weather in general, add some mulch around the base and water deep enough that the roots can hold moisture before freezing temperatures can take over.”
She recommends protecting crepe myrtles earlier in the winter, ahead of when you cut them back for the year.
Getty Images / magicflute002
What Should You Do If You Miss The Time Frame?
Luckily, easygoing crepe myrtles won’t mind if you miss the window to cut them back. If January and February have come and gone, you can still give them a light trim.
“If you missed the time range that’s best to cut back your crepe myrtles, no worries,” remarks Sons. “Lightly prune them in early spring, and avoid any heavy cutting, while focusing on shaping over doing any drastic pruning.”
And, don’t stress over whether your lack of pruning will impact the bloom season. While some people take the pruning all the way to the trunk because they think it will bring bigger and better blooms, the reality is, your crepe myrtles will give you abundant, cloud-like blooms whether you prune them or not. Cutting back is simply for your own personal taste in shaping the plant’s silhouette.
