Are you flaunting gorgeous crepe myrtles in your landscape? When properly cared for, crepe myrtles can be a year-round statement piece with vibrant summer blooms and satisfying fall colors. Learn how and when to prune crepe myrtles in Wilmington NC with Vinedresser Lawn and Landscape.
When to Prune Crepe Myrtles
n Wilmington NC, late winter is the best time to prune crepe myrtles. During the winter the tree becomes dormant, meaning it will not produce new growth. This also eliminates the chance of bleeding sap. Pruning your crepe myrtle after it has shed its leaves for the season will make it easier to spot the parts of the tree that need to be removed. Pruning crepe myrtles in late winter leads to a better bloom come spring.
The Tools You Will Need
To properly prune your crepe myrtles you will need a few basic tools:
- Loppers
- Hand pruners
- Hand saw or small chain saw
- Ladder
Be sure your tools are sharpened and clean before starting your project.
How to Prune Crepe Myrtles
Pruning crepe myrtles is more than just shaping the tree to your liking. There are some key things to look out for which Vinedresser Lawn and Landscape refers to as the five Ds of pruning.
- Dead – First, cut out all of the dead branches you can see. This enhances the appearance of the tree while reducing the risk of disease and harmful insects.
- Diseased – If a branch is weak or has signs of disease, cut it out. You do not want it influencing the rest of the tree.
- Dying – Branches may be partially dead at the tips or have discolored bark. Remove any branches that are on their way out.
- Damaged – Remove any branches that look damaged by animals or storms. These can be an entry point for disease and harmful insects. Not to mention they are just unattractive.
- Deformed – Remove any branches that are pointing in the wrong direction, rubbing against the trunk, or crossing in front of other branches. If a branch looks out of place or in the way it should be removed.
Start at the Bottom
The first step when pruning crepe myrtles is to look out for any tree suckers growing from the ground around the trunk. Suckers are an effort by the tree to grow more branches. They are especially apparent around trees under stress. If left untended, they can compete with the tree trunk and look rather unsightly.
Move to the Middle of the Trunk
After removing the suckers from the bottom, start working your way up the tree trunk removing all branches six to eight feet up. Pruning your crepe myrtle this way will leave room to walk under the tree. At this point, you should see the classic crepe myrtle vase shape beginning to form. This is how you will train your tree.
Thin Out the Canopy
Once your trunk is established it’s time to thin out the canopy. Remember the five Ds of pruning? Now is the time to remove any dead, diseased, dying, damaged, and deformed branches from the canopy of your crepe myrtle. Cut branches all the way back to the branch they grew from without leaving nubs. This will allow good airflow and optimal sunlight to circulate through the crepe myrtle canopy. When you are done you want to be left with nice thick solid branches that new growth can form on.
Finish at the Top
Finally, it is time to climb up on your ladder and shape the top of the tree. Remove all but two to three branches coming off the tips of the larger branches you have left. They should look like little fingers left on the tree. This is where the new growth will come in when your crepe myrtle is back in bloom.
Shrub and Tree Pruning in Wilmington NC
At Vinedresser Lawn and Landscape, we find this to be the easiest method for pruning crepe myrtles. Of course, it still makes for a hard day of work. Feel free to leave the shrub and tree pruning up to us this year. Vinedresser Lawn and Landscape offers quality shrub and tree pruning services in Wilmington NC and surrounding areas.