The Art of Crepe Myrtle Pruning Styles

Natural, Pollarded, and Standard

Crepe myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) are renowned for their vibrant, long-lasting summer blooms and graceful, peeling bark, making them a favorite in gardens across the United States. However, to maintain their beauty and health, proper pruning is essential. The art of crepe myrtle pruning includes various styles, each with its purpose and aesthetic appeal. This comprehensive guide will explore three primary crepe myrtle pruning styles: natural, pollarded, and standard. Additionally, we'll discuss the optimal times to prune these beloved flowering shrubs.

The Beauty of Natural Pruning

Natural pruning, also known as "crape murder," involves minimal interference with the natural growth of crepe myrtles. Those who appreciate these shrubs' wild, untamed look prefer this style. Here's how natural pruning is done:

1. Removal of Dead or Diseased Branches: Identify and remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches. This step helps improve air circulation and reduces the risk of disease.

2. Limb Shortening: Shortening long or leggy branches to encourage a bushier appearance. Make cuts just above outward-facing buds or lateral branches to promote healthy growth.

3. Thinning the Canopy: To open up the canopy and let more light penetrate, selectively remove some branches from the shrub's center. Thinning allows for better air circulation and reduces the risk of powdery mildew.

4. Pruning Timing: Natural pruning is usually done before new growth begins, during late winter or early spring. Pruning at this time allows you to assess the shrub's structure and make cuts with a clear view of its branches. Natural pruning offers a more organic and wild appearance to crepe myrtles, allowing them to take on a natural shape and size. It is well-suited for gardeners who prefer a low-maintenance approach and wish to preserve the shrub's inherent beauty.

The Precision of Pollarded Pruning

Pollarded pruning is a more aggressive approach to shaping crepe myrtles. It involves hard, annual pruning to create a controlled, formal appearance. Here's how pollarded pruning is executed:

1. Severe Branch Removal: During the dormant season, usually in late winter, branches are cut to a uniform height, leaving only the main trunk and a few short stubs. This produces a dramatic and uniform silhouette.

2. Annual Maintenance: To maintain their shape, pollarded crepe myrtles require annual maintenance. Trim any new growth extending beyond the desired height or shape in late winter or early spring.

3. Vigorous Regrowth: After each pollarding, crepe myrtles respond with vigorous regrowth in the spring, producing a dense canopy of leaves and, eventually, a profusion of summer blooms.

4. Size Control: Pollarded pruning is ideal for creating compact, formal hedges or defining boundaries in a garden. It allows for precise control of the shrub's size and shape. While pollarded crepe myrtles can appear stark and formal during winter, they burst with foliage and blossoms in the summer, making them an eye-catching addition to formal gardens or landscapes with structured designs.

The Elegance of Standard Pruning

Standard pruning, known as "tree form" or "specimen tree" pruning, transforms crepe myrtles into small, tree-like specimens. This style combines the beauty of the crepe myrtle's bark and branching structure with the elegance of a tree. Here's how standard pruning is achieved:

1. Single Trunk Formation: Select a single, central solid trunk and remove any competing shoots or branches that emerge near the base of the shrub. This establishes the desired tree-like form.

2. Remove Lower Branches: Gradually remove the lower branches over several years to create a clear, tree-like trunk. Prune these branches back to the main trunk or a lateral branch.

3. Encourage Canopy Growth: As the central trunk develops, allow the upper branches to grow naturally, forming a canopy. Minimal pruning is required for the upper limbs to maintain their natural appearance.

4. Pruning Timing: Standard pruning is best performed in late winter or early spring when the crepe myrtle is dormant and before new growth begins. Standard-pruned crepe myrtles offer an elegant focal point in gardens and landscapes. Their tree-like appearance provides a vertical element that can be particularly appealing in smaller spaces or as an accent in mixed plantings.

The Optimal Times for Crepe Myrtle Pruning

Timing is crucial for crepe myrtle pruning, regardless of the chosen style. Here are the optimal times for pruning:

1. Late Winter to Early Spring: This is the ideal time for natural, standard, and pollarded pruning. Perform pruning while the shrub is dormant but just before new growth begins, usually in late winter or early spring.

2. Avoid Summer Pruning: Avoiding crepe myrtles in full bloom is generally recommended. Pruning during this time can reduce the number of blossoms and delay or interrupt the flowering cycle.

3. Deadheading Blooms: If you wish to remove spent blooms to encourage additional flowering, do so during the summer as the blossoms fade. This is known as "deadheading."

4. Minor Pruning Year-Round: While significant pruning is best done during the dormant season, minor maintenance, such as removing dead or diseased branches, can be performed year-round.

Crepe myrtle pruning offers various styles to suit different preferences and garden designs. Natural pruning preserves the shrub's wild beauty, pollarded pruning provides precision and formality, and standard pruning offers elegance and vertical presence. By understanding the techniques and timing associated with each style, gardeners can enhance the health and aesthetics of their crepe myrtles, ensuring they remain a captivating feature in their landscapes for years to come.

Maimi Pink Crepe Myrtle

Maimi Pink Crepe Myrtle

The Maimi Pink Crepe Myrtle is a deciduous shrub or small tree with vibrant, pink crepe-paper-like flowers and smooth, cinnamon-colored bark. It is often used for ornamental landscaping. Its captivating beauty and versatile characteristics offer many advantages when incorporated into landscaping endeavors. Its unique attributes provide a harmonious blend of aesthetic, ecological, and practical benefits, making it a cherished choice among landscape designers and homeowners. Thanks to its large, colorful blooms and standout look, the pink crepe myrtle is a beautiful addition to any yard. This deciduous tree grows well in various conditions, making it well-suited for enhancing aesthetics in many yards. If you plant this distinctive tree in your yard, you can enjoy several exciting benefits. What are these benefits? Vibrant Colors Of The Maimi Pink Crepe Myrtle Its long-lasting blooms cover most of the surface area of the leafy branches, which can grow up to 15 feet in diameter, making this colorful tree a focal point in the yard. The flowers' colors range from baby rose to fuchsia, carnation, and hot and rosy shades. In addition, the slightly rounded leaves are deep green, and the bark has a pinkish-gray hue. The bark is generally smooth and mottled, which adds to its fascinating look. Enhance Pollination With The  Maimi Pink Crepe Myrtle Many types of plants rely on pollinating insects and birds. The flowers on this tree have a strong fragrance. In addition, the bark emits sap, and these two elements combine to attract up to 30 pollinator species to the yard. Pollinators are beneficial insects and birds that have a solid impact on the overall health of your yard’s small ecosystem. Many birds and insects drawn to these trees are beneficial in other ways. For example, these bugs and birds often feast on the various damaging pests in a yard. By managing the population of unwanted pests, your plants can enjoy an overall healthier environment. More Privacy Is Available With Maimi Pink Crepe Myrtle Many homes are built close to each other, allowing direct views from the windows and porches of one house to those of another. This lack of privacy erodes the comfortable living experience in the home. Pink Crepe Myrtle trees often grow up to 20 feet tall and have dense, bushy branches. When the tree is in full bloom, it may be impossible to see through the flowers and branches. Because the tree grows well above the height of a privacy fence, privacy reaches a new level.

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Twilight Crepe Myrtle - TN Nursery

Twilight Crepe Myrtle

Twilight Crepe Myrtle, or Lagerstroemia indica, is known for its stunning dark purple foliage and vibrant pink to lavender flowers, which add a striking contrast to garden landscapes. It is a popular choice in landscaping due to its numerous benefits and aesthetic appeal. This deciduous shrub, renowned for its stunning flowers and vibrant foliage, brings a range of advantages to outdoor spaces.   Twilight Crepe Myrtle, also known as Lagerstroemia indica, is a tree with gorgeous purple flowers. Its distinctive trunk makes it easy to use as a living fence for your yard. Twilight Crepe Myrtle Is A Perfect Size The highlight of this 20-foot-tall tree is its flowers. They stay in bloom for longer than most other trees, which makes them a favorite of those who adore floral accents in their yard. They have crimped petals, and each panicle grows to approximately 3 1/2 inches. Each flower is attached to five others, thereby creating six parts. Twilight Crepe Myrtle Blooms For Months The flowers typically last from July through September. After which, brown dehiscent fruits appear in a six-valved capsule. Once a capsule falls to the ground, it splits open to help more trees grow. The bark of these trees exfoliates to reveal multiple shades of gray and brown. When you combine this with the rarity of how long they bloom, you have an eye-catching tree that draws people's attention. The leaves can grow in three patterns: whorls, alternate or opposite. Either way, they grow in groups of three. In autumn, the leaves will change to a stunningly brilliant red. By then, the flowers are gone, leaving only the fall leaves to brighten your yard. Fortunately, the entire process starts again in the spring, so you'll enjoy gorgeous purple or red colors throughout most of the year. Twilight Crepe Myrtle Creates A Homes for Birds  Another good reason you'll want to consider planting them is that they provide the perfect natural habitat for wrens and songbirds. Therefore, if you've ever wanted to experience a nest up close, this tree will make your wish come true. Twilight Crepe Myrtle also provides any lawn with a lot of vertical interest, which gives it fantastic curb appeal. The best presentation is typically in a triangular pattern with three trees, which takes advantage of the tree's rather unusual shape. Rather than having one simple trunk, they spread out into many branches from a low-lying, close to the ground level, creating even more visual appeal.

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Natchez Crepe Myrtle - TN Nursery

Natchez Crepe Myrtle

Natchez Crepe Myrtle is a tall, deciduous shrub or small tree with pristine white flowers, smooth, exfoliating bark, and attractive foliage. It is a popular choice for ornamental landscaping and offers many benefits when integrated into landscaping designs, making it a highly sought-after choice for enhancing outdoor spaces. It has everything from stunning flower clusters to a beautiful curb appeal. Once it blooms, you can enjoy having elegant flowers for the entire summer. The flowers are so dense that it looks like the tree is covered in snow. You don't have to search any further for a garden favorite that you are sure to please. Natchez Crepe Myrtle Is a Lovely Focal Point Some plants were made to blend into the background, but not this tree. You can't go wrong with this option if you want a focal point for your yard. The lush green leaves look beautiful for most of the year. When autumn hits, this tree turns fiery red and orange. The leaves and flowers aren’t the only thing that stands out. You'll notice a lovely cinnamon color if you look at the smooth bark. This outer bark peels in the summertime to reveal a beige bark underneath. Natchez Crepe Myrtle Is A Perfect Tree Height While some trees can extend 50 to 80 feet into the sky, this tree is known for attaining a reasonable height. Once it reaches full maturity, it will stand just 20 feet high. This makes it an ideal tree for your garden or backyard. Plus, it is known for proliferating, which means you can plant it and enjoy its height in just a few years. Use Natchez Crepe Myrtle for Long-Lasting Blooms Natchez Crepe Myrtle stands out with its flower blooms. Many perennial plants only bloom for a couple of months or less, but this tiny tree blooms for up to five months a year. The tree produces white flowers that grow in lovely clusters in spring and summer. When the blooms stop, it is time for autumn and stunning red-orange leaves. When you start working on your landscaping, you want it to look fabulous immediately. Natchez Crepe Myrtle can help because of its speedy growth. Gardeners can expect this plant to grow 3 to 5 feet a year until it reaches maturity. This means it only takes a year or two for the plant to start looking like a tree after you purchase it from a plant nursery. Before long, you can relax under the shade of the green foliage and enjoy its white flowers.

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