How to prune a Crepe Myrtle properly by Seasonal Concepts Lawn and Landscaping in Columbus, GA. To see more tips, visit our website at: seasonalconcept...
Thank you!!!!!!!!! I just moved to my new home and I have a couple of myrtles that haven't been cut down or done anything to. And now I'm looking into cutting them. They are sky rocket high and bloom high as well.
This video seems very helpful hopefully when I do this to my tree it will actually look better because it's never been trimmed in the 20 years I've lived here and it's look exactly the same all that time no bigger or smaller sometimes it flowers a to tiny bit.
Pruning trees intentionally to create those unsightly "knuckles" is an actual gardening thing in Europe, called "pollarding". I've always thought it looked weird and ugly.
We live in Florida, moved in December and moved the tree to a new location by a professional. Here it is May 5, and still no sign of life, there is green under the bark, will it live?
I know you’ve probably found your answer by now but I’ve been told February is the best time although it can be done at other times. I want to know how long to wait for its first pruning as I just purchased one.
Cut the knuckles clean off just bellow the fist, if the trunks aren't too thick. Cut at an angle because the wound will take awhile to cover over and meantime it could rot causing hollow trunks if water collects in there. Next year choose the thickest new shoots after flowering in winter, prune these to the required height and remove all the rest and so on each season until the shape is on its way to being as natural as can be. Some of the older Largerstroemias and their hybrids had bad problems with powdery mildew so keeping the shape open in the middle, vase shape, for air circulation was important but the better new ones are resistant (make sure they are when purchasing) so you can keep the tree as full as you like. If the trunks bellow the knuckles are very thick you risk wood rot cutting the knuckles off as they don't seal over a big wound quickly, taking many years. Termites and other pests and borers can get in and the trees life will be shortened. Instead choose three or so of the strongest shoots from each knuckle, pointing in a even direction, remove the rest and then prune those strongest shoots at a good height from the knuckle. This way you'v effectively bypassed the knuckle. As thee tree grows the knuckle will look less and less obvious.
@@riverp9019 thanks. I grew up in the far north, where lawn and garden care isn't the same as the south (meaning most people don't care as much). But my dad's roots are in New Orleans, so we would visit and see these tall knuckly trees cut to the bone. My life led me to Georgia, and my neighbors seemed to have the same, knuckly trees so I thought that's the way they should look. I know understand I've been a Crepe Murderer for all these years and this year I'll try to avoid that... thanks for the information!
This has too be the best video on trimming crape myrtles. It’s easy to understand and gets right to the point without any extra talking.
I don't even have a Crepe Myrtle and I find this fascinating!!
Thank you!!!!!!!!! I just moved to my new home and I have a couple of myrtles that haven't been cut down or done anything to. And now I'm looking into cutting them. They are sky rocket high and bloom high as well.
Thanks! One of the better explained videos.
After watching another video, I was almost committing a Crape murder. Thanks so much for a clear and understandable explanation to save my tree.
Great how to video
Thank you! 👏🏼
This video seems very helpful hopefully when I do this to my tree it will actually look better because it's never been trimmed in the 20 years I've lived here and it's look exactly the same all that time no bigger or smaller sometimes it flowers a to tiny bit.
instablaster
Pruning trees intentionally to create those unsightly "knuckles" is an actual gardening thing in Europe, called "pollarding". I've always thought it looked weird and ugly.
It may be unsightly but it’s interesting to learn! Thank you for sharing that.
We live in Florida, moved in December and moved the tree to a new location by a professional. Here it is May 5, and still no sign of life, there is green under the bark, will it live?
I say plan ahead sooner. but good procedure for waiting too long.
Thank You Sir 👍
I live in southern California, when is best time to prune crapes: our last frost will be in end of February
I know you’ve probably found your answer by now but I’ve been told February is the best time although it can be done at other times. I want to know how long to wait for its first pruning as I just purchased one.
What about the bark? Mine sheds bark and I can’t resist pulling it off.
It depends on the variety. Some crepe myrtles have exfoliating (shedding) bark.
My crape myrtle has 4 inch trunks. It stands about 8-10 feet tall. How can I cut it down so it will become a bush again?
Mr. Hopper kept repeating that the CM is actually a tree, not a bush.
What do you do if you have the nuckles to enhance the shape?
Cut the knuckles clean off just bellow the fist, if the trunks aren't too thick. Cut at an angle because the wound will take awhile to cover over and meantime it could rot causing hollow trunks if water collects in there. Next year choose the thickest new shoots after flowering in winter, prune these to the required height and remove all the rest and so on each season until the shape is on its way to being as natural as can be. Some of the older Largerstroemias and their hybrids had bad problems with powdery mildew so keeping the shape open in the middle, vase shape, for air circulation was important but the better new ones are resistant (make sure they are when purchasing) so you can keep the tree as full as you like. If the trunks bellow the knuckles are very thick you risk wood rot cutting the knuckles off as they don't seal over a big wound quickly, taking many years. Termites and other pests and borers can get in and the trees life will be shortened. Instead choose three or so of the strongest shoots from each knuckle, pointing in a even direction, remove the rest and then prune those strongest shoots at a good height from the knuckle. This way you'v effectively bypassed the knuckle. As thee tree grows the knuckle will look less and less obvious.
@@riverp9019 thanks. I grew up in the far north, where lawn and garden care isn't the same as the south (meaning most people don't care as much). But my dad's roots are in New Orleans, so we would visit and see these tall knuckly trees cut to the bone. My life led me to Georgia, and my neighbors seemed to have the same, knuckly trees so I thought that's the way they should look.
I know understand I've been a Crepe Murderer for all these years and this year I'll try to avoid that... thanks for the information!
@@bighgnoz5189 Must be the season. i just trimmed mine yesterday! Hope it helps.
Why does every video I try to watch about this just cut away and not explain a damn thing?! Explain WHERE and HOW to make the cuts, and WHY!!
You may want to watch the video again.
@@bobby-ov9qn yeah, I thought he did just that and was the best video on pruning crepes I’d seen. 🤔
Some call what you did crepe murder. I hate that expression. Smart topping imo.
Crape Murder = Small Brain