Is it too early to prune crape myrtles?

12 years ago

Hi guys--I would rather not prune crape myrtles at all, but last year my neighbors pruned two of my three bushes down to fat stumps, it looked like they just sawed them straight across with a chainsaw. I probably should have just let them do the same to the last one, but I tried to head them off by pruning it more gently before they got to it. Then, I accidentally damaged that tree with herbicide when I killed a catalpa stump growing through the middle of it.

Long story short, they don't match in size now, so I need to prune them.

My question, is it too early now? I have time to do it this weekend, and I want to beat the neighbors in case they get any more ideas. But I don't want to hurt the trees either. I live in Sapulpa. It's been so warm this year that I thought it might be ok to go ahead. What do you think?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

mwilk42
12 years ago
I hope that it is ok, I did mine this week. It is such a crazy year. They aren't budding out yet, but my Rose of Sharon and Crabapples are. usually the crapes would not bud out till much later, but this year has not been usual. LOL
mo
miraje
12 years ago
I follow a blog on Southern Living's website by Steve Bender, and he just posted about pruning crepes saying that now is a good time to do it. I linked to the blog post below, partially because there's a link at the bottom of the page to another blog post describing the correct way to prune a crepe myrtle, but mostly because he's running a contest right now where people submit pictures of badly pruned crepe myrtles. The winners get a prize!

Here is a link that might be useful: The Grumpy Gardener
Related Professionals
Holly Springs Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Wrentham Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Forest Park Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Anderson Landscape Contractors · Gaithersburg Landscape Contractors · Hendersonville Landscape Contractors · Kaysville Landscape Contractors · Metairie Landscape Contractors · Saint John Landscape Contractors · San Pedro Landscape Contractors · Vacaville Landscape Contractors · Wanaque Landscape Contractors · Rogers Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · San Antonio Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Towson Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures
Julie717
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks guys, I think I will go for it.
p_mac
12 years ago
Heather - I knew we must be KINDRED souls. I too follow the Grumpy Gardener and honestly, Southern Living mag is my "guilty pleasure"! Thanks for the heads up. This last week has been crazy and I missed that post on his blog.

And thanks to Julie717 for this reminder. I too, need to go out and trim...but be careful not to commit "crepe murder". hehe!