how to trim a large crepe myrtle tree

Pruning in the fall will likely leave your crepe myrtle susceptible to frost damage especially the farther north you live. Cut off any suckers whether from the base or any that grow out of any branch or stem.

How To Prune Crape Myrtles Without Totally Destroying Them Plants For All Seasons Since 1973

I strongly believe that if a tree is too large to be pruned without a ladder then a homeowner has no business with a chain saw in his hand.

. In this video I demonstrate how I trim a crepe myrtle tree that has overgrown. With proper pruning any of our beautiful sizes and varieties can become a single stem plant. When a crape myrtle has reached 5 to 8 years in age andor has developed a nice full canopy I usually discontinue pruning on the top of the tree.

Pruners are good for small branches up to 34 inches in diameter. Likewise is a crepe myrtle a tree or a bush. Crape Myrtle Lagerstroemia indica Crape myrtles are popular landscape trees.

If heavy-pruning your too-tall crape is an annual ritual transplant it if possible and replace it. Crape myrtles are popular landscape trees. I normally try to trim Crepe Myrtles every two years but these tress went sev.

Otherwise prune while the plant is dormant winter or early spring to remove lateral branches small twigs or branches in the center of the plant to open more space for sun and air movement. Plan to prune your myrtle in late winter or early spring when it is best for the plant. Formal style pruning is also thought to encourage additional blooming since it forces the tree to grow more new wood which is where blossoms are formed.

Garden Design describes standard-size crape myrtles as a kind of tree that is able to grow with a single large trunk or as many as five separate trunks from a single root system. So if youve already cut the crape myrtle back youll need to wait until late next winter to do any more pruning. Youll want to use a good pair of long-handled loppers plus your trusty pruners for performing this task.

The larger varieties grow rather quickly providing a bit of shade in addition to the. To prune a Crepe myrtle youll need some pruning equipment like a hand pruner for smaller branches and a pruning saw for larger branches. So with that being said it pays to prune your Crape Myrtles in the winter months as soon as November at as late at March when they are dormant.

Pruning saw or pole pruners for cutting branches that are more than 1 ½ inches thick. Excessively upward and outward the crapemyrtle will be reduced in size. You dont have to remove the faded flower clusters at the ends of the branches to keep the tree flowering.

With a formal style when you prune crepe myrtle trees you are pruning for outward shape rather than inner openness. Remove any branches that are growing in clusters around the center of the tree. Only shorten branches they will vigorously re-sprout in spring and the tree.

If yours are way out of control then a chainsaw might be necessary in the most extreme cases. The good news is most Crape Myrtles can be pruned with hand held shears or long handles loppers. In order to prune the crepe myrtle you might need some of the following tools.

Use a saw for large branches over 1 12 inch in diameter. You may need a pruning saw for bigger branches and trunks. However most modern cultivars of crepe myrtle are disease resistant and so this is not an issue and the thinning out of twigs is no longer recommended as essential.

Loppers for cutting branches with ½ to 1 ½ inches thick. Most crape myrtle pruning can be done with a tree saw large and small and some good loppers. Clean your tools with a bleach or alcohol mixture before you make any cuts.

These can grow up. Your best option is to do several thinning cuts. A good tree saw by the way cuts through branches like a knife through butter.

Entire branch all the way to the base rather than simply shortening it. Loppers are used for bigger branches and may be helpful when pruning your crape myrtle tree You will need a pair of good quality hand pruners to clip branches up to one-half inch in diameter. I used pruning loppers and a small chainsaw.

By removing limbs that go. This may call for removing branches 2 inches or less in diameter. To begin pruning decide what size and shape youd like your myrtle to be.

These tools work best. Will resume growing in ways you dont want. Certainly in older varieties of crepe myrtle the tree should have its branches thinned out to ensure good airflow to prevent disease.

If your crepe myrtle does seem to be getting too densely branched. Also trim any new growth that appears on the stem that may turn into a branch. Before you prune a crepe myrtle make sure you have a good reason for each cut you make.

Hand pruners for clipping twigs and branches with less than 12 inch thick. Pruning serves to improve crape myrtle structure increase clearance under the canopy and remove diseased dead or overly vigorous branches. Corrective pruning should be done to remove damaged or dead branches when a problem is detected.

Rather than go into detail here Ill provide a link to an article that provides tips for standard pruning and for corrective pruning which is necessary when a crape myrtle has been. Cuts to remove awkward branches or those that rub against each other are fine but remove the entire branch without leaving a stub. Any heavy pruning on crape myrtle should be done in late winter while the tree is in dormancy.

You want all of your branching to occur on the top quarter of the tree. Pick the right tool for the pruning you want to do. Severe pruning will not kill or injure a healthy crape myrtle.

This includes any suckers. They bloom in the summer when there are few other trees and shrubs providing that service. Loppers are used for branches up to an inch and half thick.

In this video I showed how I pruned 4 overgrown crepe myrtles trees. Choose loppers for branches 34 inch to 1 12 inches in diameter. Simply remove any extra stems protruding from the ground.

In a formal style the decision on how to prune a crepe myrtle tree is. That means taking out an. The Right Time to Prune A Crape Myrtle Wrong-season pruning would mean November and December.

How to Prune Crepe Myrtle To prune crepe myrtle Rogers says to start with a pair of sharp pruning shears that youve wiped down with rubbing alcohol rinsed and dried.

The Complete Guide To Crepe Myrtle Trees Southern Living