What is wrong with my crepe myrtle tree? Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) are essentially trouble-free small trees. The most common problems include powdery mildew, Cercospora leaf spot, aphids, Japanese beetles, and sooty mold.
How do you revive a crepe myrtle tree? 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.
How do you treat crepe myrtle disease? Spray the infected crepe myrtle trees with copper fungicide or lime sulfur fungicide. Start spraying when the leaf tip symptoms first show up, then repeat every ten days during wet weather.
What is wrong with my crepe myrtle tree? – Related Questions
How to cut back an overgrown crepe myrtle?
As they grow taller, gradually remove all side branches up to a height of four to five feet. This exposes the smooth, handsome bark. Early each spring, remove weak, spindly growth and all the branches that are growing in toward the center of the plant. Prune large branches back to a crotch.
When should you trim your crepe myrtles?
When is the best time to trim or cut back crepe myrtles? Early spring before new growth is the best time to prune crape myrtles. Whenever you prune, you cause the tree to generate new growth. New growth that starts now will not have time to harden off before frost.
Are crepe myrtles drought resistant?
Crape myrtles prefer full sun, thrive in the heat and are drought-tolerant once established, making them perfect plants for Waco and most of Texas. Severe topping of crape myrtles is ugly, unnecessary and damages the tree.
What do crepe myrtl shrubs look like?
The common crapemyrtle is a deciduous, small to medium sized shrub or small tree with a variable, moderately dense habit, often multi-stemmed form. The showy pink flowers have wrinkled petals like crepe paper. The foliage is dark green changing in fall to yellows, oranges, and reds.
Can crepe myrtles grow in lndiana?
Crape myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica, is the pride and joy of Southern landscapes in USDA hardiness zones 7 through 9. The northern two-thirds of Indiana is considered zone 5, which means winter temperatures below zero. Thus, crape myrtle would not be a good choice for most of Indiana.
How fast dp crepe myrtle grow?
This shrub grows at a fast rate, with height increases of more than 24″ per year.
When does crepe myrtle start to bloom?
Most years, crape myrtles start blooming between mid-May and early June. Flowering continues for 90-120 days depending on the variety. You may sometimes see crape myrtles not blooming well.
How to trim crepe myrtle bush into a tree?
Selectively prune upper branches along each stem to shape a flowing, open canopy. Remove branches that cross one another or grow through the interior of the crown. As the crapemyrtle grows, continue to remove lower branches and any suckers that emerge from the base of the plant.
How often to water a transplanted crepe myrtle?
Watering: Water your newly planted crape myrtle thoroughly after planting. Water newly planted crape myrtles at least once a week if dormant and in cool weather, and up to five times a week if planted during hot weather or in very sandy soil.
Can crepe myrtle grow in nebraska?
The Purple Crepe Myrtle Shrub can be grown in zones 6 to 10.
How many colors of crepe myrtle?
Go for Color: Crape Myrtles come in a wide range of colors, including white, lilac, and purple, many shades of pink and different shades of red. So in the garden they go well with other plants in similar colors.
What crepe myrtle trees attract beatles?
Most crape myrtle varieties thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 to 10 but some grow in USDA zone 6. Crape myrtles attract aphids, Japanese beetles and primrose flea beetles.
How to treat scale on crepe myrtles?
Treatment. The best window for control is late April or early May as the crapemyrtles begin to really flush, and can be applied through July. Apply a soil drench of an imidacloprid product such as Ferti-Lome Tree & Shrub Systemic Insect Drench during this period.
Are crepe myrtles trees considered hard wood trees?
The Crepe Myrtle is typically thought of as an ornamental shrub or small tree. … The tree itself has a very hard wood that can be used in craft applications.
When will my crepe myrtle wake up?
Although spring temperatures can vary from year to year, crepe myrtle leaves begin appearing on its branches a few weeks after the last frost in USDA zone 9, or in late March or early April.
When is the best time to prune crepe myrtles?
Early spring before new growth is the best time to prune crape myrtles. Whenever you prune, you cause the tree to generate new growth. New growth that starts now will not have time to harden off before frost.
When to plant crepe myrtles in louisiana?
Apply in early spring. One of the best features of crape myrtles is the natural growth habit. Frequently, improper pruning destroys this desirable aspect. Use a selective method of pruning (thinning out the plant canopy) to achieve the best growth habit.
How to prevent powdery mildew on crepe myrtles?
Among the more effective organic spray options are horticultural oil and plant based oil such as Neem oil. Potassium bicarbonate (Greencure) is another organic spray remedy. These sprays must be applied the plant foliage periodically to prevent powdery mildew infection.
Can you prune crepe myrtles in the summer?
Pruning crepe myrtles in summer is not the optimal time of year to trim your trees, unless you wait until after they bloom. … Floridata notes that some cultivars continue to bloom for as long as 120 days, making this tree or large shrub a popular landscape plant.
How to remove crepe myrtle stump?
Using a power stump grinder is the most efficient way to remove your stump. Position the grinder near your stump, turn it on, and begin pushing it forward into the stump to grind away at its surface. Move it around the circumference of the stump to make sure you also grind the aerial roots.
What is best fertilizer for crepe myrtles?
Crape myrtles require large amounts of nitrogen to foster growth and produce the greatest number of flowers. The University of Georgia Extension suggests choosing an all-purpose garden fertilizer such as an 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 formulation. A 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 formulation is also acceptable if applied at a lesser rate.