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Started By
Message
OT horticulturists: Pruning crepe myrtles?
Posted on 1/25/15 at 3:51 pm
Posted on 1/25/15 at 3:51 pm
I ripped on people before for seemingly killing their crepe myrtles by chopping the top half off every year, but my crepe myrtles have gotten outta control.
I trimmed back the branches that were touching my house but it still doesn't look right.
If I really cut it back to the main branches, how long will it take for it to grow back green again?
I trimmed back the branches that were touching my house but it still doesn't look right.
If I really cut it back to the main branches, how long will it take for it to grow back green again?
11
Posted on 1/25/15 at 3:54 pm to Asgard Device
makes absolutely no difference to the tree if you do or if you don't, I trim mine back just to keep my gutters clean, HOA trees 60' away have never been touched, can't tell the difference when they are in bloom
Posted on 1/25/15 at 3:54 pm to Asgard Device
If you do it now, they'll be sprouting green as soon as Spring begins. They're tough as nails.
Posted on 1/25/15 at 3:54 pm to Asgard Device
By "crepe myrtles" we all realize you really mean your SO's pubic hair.
It touching your junk probably would be a turn-off.
Prayers sent.
It touching your junk probably would be a turn-off.
Prayers sent.
Posted on 1/25/15 at 3:55 pm to Asgard Device
They will sprout new branches from those "nodes" and each year you cut them back to that spot.
Posted on 1/25/15 at 3:56 pm to soccerfüt
Really?
Posted on 1/25/15 at 4:03 pm to Asgard Device
They will grow back out amazingly fast...cut them the way you want them and as soon as they get green, they will shoot out like crazy
Posted on 1/25/15 at 4:03 pm to Asgard Device
I only cut the branches growing towards the inside of the tree. I never cut down to knots like most people do
Posted on 1/25/15 at 4:08 pm to Asgard Device
don't cut them. you ruin the structure of the treee. cutting them down to the stumps like everyone does in the late winter is stupid. the trees end up forming knots and look like shite.
Posted on 1/25/15 at 4:10 pm to Geauxld Finger
quote:
don't cut them. you ruin the structure of the treee. cutting them down to the stumps like everyone does in the late winter is stupid. the trees end up forming knots and look like shite.
doesn't make any difference when they are in bloom or when the leaves come out
Posted on 1/25/15 at 4:10 pm to Geauxld Finger
quote:
don't cut them. you ruin the structure of the treee. cutting them down to the stumps like everyone does in the late winter is stupid. the trees end up forming knots and look like shite.
My old land lord used to do this and they looked like shite. I stopped years ago when I took over and they look much better. Trim them like any other tree. Never cut them back like that.
Posted on 1/25/15 at 4:11 pm to 777Tiger
so for one month a year the trees look nice, and the rest of the year look like dog shite
Posted on 1/25/15 at 4:22 pm to Geauxld Finger
not mine, they either have leaves or blooms from March till October, for the few months in between, personally they look better trimmed to me, all about personal preference, doesn't make any difference to the tree
This post was edited on 1/25/15 at 4:28 pm
Posted on 1/25/15 at 4:29 pm to Asgard Device
Chopping them horizontally is called crape murder and is looked down upon and discouraged by horticulturists
Posted on 1/25/15 at 4:31 pm to Tigerpaw123
quote:
Chopping them horizontally is called crape murder and is looked down upon and discouraged by horticulturists
I live on a corner lot and trim mine, the common area on my property line is lined with HOA crepe myrtles that never get touched, you can't tell any difference
Posted on 1/25/15 at 4:34 pm to 777Tiger
From LSU ag center
LINK
quote:
An unfortunate trend in crape myrtle pruning is to "lop off the tops," which results in a crew-cut appearance. The lush growth that occurs at these cut sites appears vigorous but is actually structurally weak and is more susceptible to fungus diseases such as powdery mildew. Worse yet, when pruning is done improperly over several seasons, unsightly large, swollen knobs form at the pruned locations. Some folks refer to this pruning method for crape myrtles as “crape murder.” Southern Living magazine even hosts a “crape murder” photo contest each spring.
While crape murder does not actually kill a tree, why are these most popular, small, flowering trees pruned this way?
The method of cutting back the main branches of a tree to the same spot every year is called pollarding. This pruning method is used on some types of trees in certain situations and tends to be more common in Europe than America. But it’s not appropriate for crape myrtles.
A gardener should understand, however, that the life of a crape myrtle is shortened and the natural beauty of the tree is destroyed by this pruning technique. If gardeners understand this and still decide pollarding creates the appearance they desire for their trees, well, that’s their choice
LINK
Posted on 1/25/15 at 4:43 pm to Tigerpaw123
quote:
Tigerpaw123
this is escalating into a droid-iphone type brawl from the tech board
we're talking about an overgrown shrub here, doesn't make a rat's arse difference if they're pruned back or not, besides, those who can do, do, those that can't teach at the LSU ag center 
Posted on 1/25/15 at 4:44 pm to Asgard Device
I buy crepe myrtles with only one trunk vs. multiple ones and prune them as I would a tree...and they grow/look like trees.
Very much against whacking them annually. Google Crepe Murder and you will find articles like this one:
Stop the Madness
Would you prefer this
or this
Very much against whacking them annually. Google Crepe Murder and you will find articles like this one:
quote:
But for some reason, a mysterious reason that I haven’t quite solved, the majority of the "gardeners" (and ALL of the landscape crews) in Texas have made it a horrid ritual of butchering them.
Clip this portion of the article out and take it directly to your spouse, maintenance person, or nurseryman. I know of NO educated horticulturist or arborist that endorses the practice of topping crapemyrtles or any ornamental trees for that matter. Go ahead. Pick up the phone. Call Neil Sperry. Call Dr. Bill Welch. Call the National Arboretum! You WILL NOT find any plant expert that will condone or recommend this practice.
Then why do we do it? Actually I have several theories. But I’m not going to share any of them with you for fear that you might some how feel justified in your arboreal disfigurement.
Click image to enlarge in new window
I will tell you why not too, however. First of all it leaves horrible scars and wounds that last forever. That’s correct, FOREVER. I can show you exactly where any crapemyrtle on earth was topped.
Stop the Madness
Would you prefer this
or this
Posted on 1/25/15 at 4:44 pm to Tigerpaw123
Turns em into Club myrtles
Posted on 1/25/15 at 4:48 pm to Asgard Device
Don't do it.
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