Crape Myrtles start losing their leaves toward the end of fall, but they don’t lose all their leaves until winter. If your Crape Myrtle begins losing leaves during the summer or early fall, it could be a sign of trouble. Fungal disease and pest activity are the likely culprits, so it’s important to handle those issues right away.
Should crape myrtles be deadheaded?
Most gardeners consider deadheading crape myrtle trees more trouble than it's worth, but it's certainly something you may do. Sometimes it's recommended to ensure another flush of late-summer blooms. But crape myrtles are generally reliable about producing a smaller second flush of flowers whether they are deadheaded or not.
How to protect your crape myrtles during the winter?
We have a few tips to help you:
- We recommend feeding your plant with a fertilizer, like Espoma Holly-tone.
- Make sure there is 2 – 3″ of mulch over the root system. ...
- Be observant. ...
- If your Crape Myrtle has a number of spent blossoms, you can remove these blossoms after the Crape Myrtle has dropped its leaves.
Do crape myrtles have deep roots?
Yes. Crepe Myrtles have a moderate to deep root system that tends to be more spread out than other flowering bushes (or trees depending on how you grow yours). Also, even though Crepe Myrtles seem to be dormant during the winter, their root system, is not. Their roots continue to grow during the winter and specificaly grow in outward directions ...
Is it too late to prune crape myrtle?
It’s not too late to prune your crape myrtles now. While we consider late winter to be the ideal time to prune crape myrtles, now (early spring) is also OK for pruning them.
What time of year do crepe myrtles lose their leaves?
Normally, a crepe myrtle will lose its leaves from late fall into early winter. Considering this species is deciduous, you can expect a crepe myrtle to lose the majority of its foliage by around late November.
What do crepe myrtles look like in the fall?
The Crape Myrtle's fall color is nothing short of stunning. During the autumn season, you can expect a myriad of deep orange-reds and bright yellow-golds, lighting up your landscape with a vibrant display of the changing of seasons.
Why are my crepe myrtle leaves falling off?
Answer: This is a fungal disease called Cercospora leaf spot. You will see dark spots on the leaves, then the leaves turn yellow, orange or red -- depending on the cultivar of crape myrtle -- and fall off. This disease is encouraged by rainy weather, which is why we are seeing so much now.
What do crape myrtles look like in winter?
After a full summer of color, Crape Myrtle's fall foliage glows in radiant shades of red, orange, and yellow. Plant in a landscape where you can enjoy them backlit by early morning or late afternoon light. Winter reveals a Crape Myrtle's sculptural trunks and branches. Some are lustrous and smooth.
What month do crepe myrtles go dormant?
It is dormant during winter, when it takes up little if any water through its roots. In USDA zone 9, winter temperatures can drop to 20 or 30 degrees Fahrenheit for short periods of time, with the last frost usually occurring in early March.
Do crepe myrtles look dead in winter?
Crape myrtles have a dormant period every winter. During the dormant stage crapes will lose all their leaves and look like dead. Don't worry, just like a bear sleeps for the winter, your crape myrtles are still sleeping . Crapes do not start leafing out until temperature are consistently the 80s.
How do you know when a crepe myrtle is dying?
Crepe Myrtles have thin bark, which you can scratch with your fingernail. You can do this to check the health of your tree. Tree care professionals call this the “scratch test.” If the bark underneath is green, your tree is still alive. If not, you might need to call for backup.
Is Miracle Grow good for crape myrtles?
According to the manufacturer, Miracle-Gro Shake n Feed All Purpose Plant Food Plus Weed Preventer 1 should not be used around Crape Myrtles as it could damage them.
How do you take care of a crape myrtle in the winter?
It is advisable to wrap young (1 year or less) and small Crepe Myrtle trees. Wrap burlap around the branches and then add an insulating filler such as leaves or straw to provide additional protection. Use bush jackets for dwarf plants. Bush jackets are reusable insulating covers that cover the plant.
What do you do with crepe myrtles in the fall?
Generally, crape myrtles in the fall should be left to grow. A rule of green thumb: The ideal time to prune will be late winter, February or March; however, you can wait until April to prune your crape myrtle if you live in milder growing zones.
Is a crape myrtle a messy tree?
The Crepe Myrtle is a great addition to any yard. It is easy to care for, drought resistant, cold resistant and deer resistant. It is not a messy tree, provides shade, and is beautiful during all seasons of the year. It is the Summer Flowering Tree of California.
Can you cut crepe myrtles back in November?
Only the new growth each year is what produces those lovely blooms that you admire each spring and summer. So with that being said, it pays to prune your Crape Myrtles in the winter months as soon as November at as late at March when they are dormant.
What color are crepe myrtle leaves in the fall?
Leaves: Crape myrtles have bright fall colors, considered very attractive and decorative. They have dark green leaves, with a red fringe upon opening. In the fall the leaves turn red, yellow, or orange. Leaf type is simple, shape is oval and venation is pinnate.
Do crepe myrtles change color in fall?
During the fall, it is normal for a crepe myrtle to change from green to yellow, orange, or red. Sometimes the leaves may take on a purple color which is close to blue too.
Do crepe myrtle leaves turn yellow in the fall?
Initially displaying dark spots, these leaves eventually turn yellow, orange or red and fall off your trees, well before the hot Louisiana temperatures have dropped and fall has begun. While Cercospora is a known disease of Crepe Myrtle trees, you need not worry.
What month do crepe myrtles bloom?
Most years, crape myrtles start blooming between mid-May and early June. Flowering continues for 90-120 days depending on the variety.
How tall are crape myrtles?
Crape myrtles have relatively few problems with disease or pest infestations. The plant produces an abundance of flowers even in the absence of, or with very little, fertilizer. While plant height ranges from 3 feet to 35 feet, crape myrtles are most commonly maintained as small trees.
How much sun do crape myrtles need?
Crape myrtles require at least six hours of full sunlight per day to induce flowering and maintain fast, symmetrical growth. These plants prefer well-drained, slightly acidic, loamy soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.5.
Do crape myrtles lose their leaves?
Crape myrtles are ornamental shrubs or trees. They are also deciduous, which means they lose their leaves in the winter. The crape myrtle is most often associated with its vibrant summer blooms, but when properly maintained, it is an attractive addition to the landscape during all seasons of the year.
Do crape myrtles need pruning?
Crape myrtles do not require pruning in order to bloom. In fact, plants will produce flowers without any pruning whatsoever. In general, flower clusters on unpruned trees will be smaller but more numerous. On the other hand, correct, light pruning can improve plant shape and encourage the development of larger blooms. Avoid hard pruning, particularly the type of pruning called crape murder, which refers to the practice of pruning off the top of the plant without regard to its true form. This encourages excess vegetative growth, basal sprouting, reduced flowering and weakly attached new growth.
Why do myrtle leaves die?
Cercospora leaf spot, a fungal disease, can cause crape myrtle shrubs to lose all of their leaves in the summer. Cercospora leaf spot first appears as yellow spots on the upper surface of the leaf. The spots eventually merge together. As time goes on, the leaves die.
What is the growth on myrtle leaves?
Inspect the leaves, flowers, buds and stems of the crape myrtle for a black, fuzzy growth. This growth is called sooty mold and it occurs when honeydew-secreting insects -- such as aphids -- are infesting the plant. Sooty mold does not harm the plant but can block sunlight from the leaves, which interferes with photosynthesis. Sooty mold will go away on its own once the honeydew-secreting insects are gone.
How big does a crape myrtle get?
Crape myrtle is a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree that is usually between 15 and 25 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 to 15 feet. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, crape myrtle grows in the form of a vase and can add up to 2 feet a year, considered a high growth rate.
Why are myrtles falling off?
Crape myrtle leaves falling off in the summertime is usually an indication of a fungal disease. Crape myrtles are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones to 6 to 9.
What type of soil do crape myrtles like?
Medium soils are ideal for crape myrtles. According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, in soil that is too fertile, your crape myrtle may produce more foliage and fewer flowers. Overly fertile soil also makes this species more vulnerable to injury in the winter. For this reason, a slow-release fertilizer is best for crape myrtles.
What temperature does crape myrtle grow?
Powdery mildew is a contiguous fungus that doesn’t require moisture to grow and is prevalent in temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees and shaded locations.
How much sun does a crape myrtle need?
Also known as "lilac of the South," Crape myrtles grow best in full sun, which means six hours of direct sunlight or more every day. They like soil that is moist and drains well. Water this plant deeply, but keep the leaves dry to avoid diseases. Crape myrtle will grow just as well in soil that is slightly acidic or slightly alkaline.
Basic Information
Crape myrtles can thrive without any problems in zones 6-10. This puts the tree in the ideal spot for planting it in the area, according to tree services Texas. The roots will survive without any problems, even if occasional cold snaps occur.
Planting
As a general rule of thumb, deciduous trees and shrubs are planted in early spring or fall. By doing this, you are allowing them time to establish before the summer heat or before they go dormant in winter. Crape myrtles Texas are very resilient and you can plant them even during the summer, just make sure you provide enough water.
Pruning & Maintenance
Pruning should be done while the tree is dormant. When it comes to Texas Crape myrtle, that’s in winter. We recommend you hiring tree pruning Texas experts to help you with the task since untrained hand can easily damage the tree.
Q: How fast do crape myrtles grow in Texas?
A: Crape myrtles grow about 3 feet each year in Texas. These trees are considered to be fast growers, and this is also one of the reasons why they are favorite among flowering trees. Even though they grow fast, they will also continue to have a long and healthy lifespan in the proper environment.
Q: When should you plant crape myrtles in Texas?
A: Crape myrtles should be planted while they’re dormant, in Texas that’s in winter. By doing this, you are allowing the root system to establish itself before the summer heat and droughts hit. Young plants are susceptible to damage, so establishing the root system properly is very important.
Q: Are crape myrtles native to Texas?
A: Malpighia glabra is the native Crape myrtle variety to Texas. It is a member of the Malpighiaceae family, but it is not closely related to Lagerstroemia indica, the most popular Crape myrtle variety. This variety is native to tropical Asia but is also very popular in Texas.
Q: Are crape myrtles poisonous to dogs?
A: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reports that Crape myrtle in Texas is non-toxic to animals, nor humans. Many beautiful plants and trees contain toxins that can be dangerous to dogs and puppies, but you won’t have to worry about it if you decide to plant Crape myrtle.
