I usually wait until mid-January to write something on this topic but this week I saw my first severe pruning of a crape myrtle for this dormant season earlier this month. So, instead of visions of ...

Question: I have a friend who wants to know the best time to prune crape myrtles. I told him February. Is this correct? Answer: Pruning crape myrtles is always a hot topic. Some want to do heavy ...

Question: Several crape myrtles in our yard are shedding lots of bark. Is this normal? Answer: Not only are crape myrtles with shedding bark normal — but beautiful. Often under the outer layer of old ...

Dear Neil: How can I find someone qualified to tell me if a very large tree needs to be taken down? I’ve gotten conflicting comments. You need a Certified Arborist. He or she will be a member of the ...

A: Something drastic needs to be done. I see three options: 1. If this were a home landscape where only one family were involved, the plants could be cut to the ground and the new shoots you see ...

Q: How can I find someone qualified to tell me if a very large tree needs to be taken down? I’ve gotten conflicting comments. A: You need a certified arborist. He or she will be a member of the ...

Dear Neil: We have two large crape myrtles next to our community pool. They were damaged by the February 2021 cold spell. They’re alive, but they only have random clumps of leaves on some branches, ...

Don't let old growth see another spring.

Prune crape myrtles in late winter to encourage strong new growth and flower production. Avoid pruning in spring, summer, or fall to prevent cutting off new flowers and stressing the tree. Never top ...

Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia sp) are among the toughest and showiest plants for Texas landscapes. Introduced from China, crape myrtles have been grown in the U.S. since the American Revolution and ...

Though springtime in Lancaster County is greeted by a spectrum of blooming trees and shrubs, late-summer color can be hard to come by. Fortunately, in Lancaster County, we can grow crape myrtle, a ...

Crape myrtles are cherished for their eye-catching blooms and elegant shapes, yet a myth persists about their care. Many people falsely believe that severely cutting back crape myrtles to bare trunks ...