Hi, I was wondering if anyone here has any Crepe Myrtle shrubs? I just bought two shrubs and want to know if I should use any kind of Miracle Grow on them. I planted them about a month ago and they seem to be doing OK, but I want to make sure I am taking good care of them. I live in zone 5 and will be covering them for winter. Thanks for any help.
AKA the roots that will not die! My wife was complaining our crepes are so tall she can no longer see the flowers! Trunks are at least as thick as my middle and believe me that is saying something! I am amused by the use of "shrub" and "crepe myrtle" in one sentence! I could use a flamethrower and they will grow back! The only way I have made a shrub of them is to hard prune to a almost flush stump and space scars in the bark where I want new growth to emerge. But there are many types and no doubt the hybridizers have been at work since the grow so easily. They can be quite nice when they have a shrub shape.
Dirtmechanic, So you are saying that I do not need to add any food/fertilizer to my crepe myrtle soil? Thank you very much for your reply.
It never hurts to feed any plant for a start them food. Just lay off the nitrogen and help the roots bite before winter.
@Richie Cooper, So I just love this plant. I am in zone 6a. Very near you. Crape Myrtle may do ok over one or two of your winters depending on where you plant it or how you much it for winter but sooner or later we will have a severe enough winter that it will kill the plant and the roots. I have been lucky, I have 4 on my property. May I suggest that if you have this plant by fall to cut it back to about 8 inches. I know it's hard to do that but if your plant is going to survive and it comes back in the spring, it will be stronger than ever for the next summer and then the next fall. If you don't cut it back it will become long and lanky and will bloom less and less over the years. After you cut it back in fall cover it with mulch or insulation of some kind and maybe burlap or a styro cone for covering plants. You don't need to protect the top part of the plant from your winter, you need to protect the root system from your winter. Crape Myrtle should be blooming soon in your area..Look around...do you see any of them in your area? Do they sell it at the garden centers near your house? Sometimes that is a hint for what will live for you or what will now. Now I travel allot and will pick up a plant our of my zone..I do this open eyed and either tuck it in very well for winter or keep it in the pot and put it in the garage or basement, (or greenhouse) for the winter. My motto is to take care of the roots, fertilize the roots, keep them protected in winter and the plant will do its best to survive. If it looks dead, do not dig it out until you water, water, water and it falls out from being dead. If you are not, I tell my hubby, plant something right next to the dead plant. He has done this and, sure enough, the original plant has survived. He was stunned. He had quickly moved the newly planted one .
Waretrop, Thank you VERY much for this information, its just what I have been looking for!! I will do exactly what you said to do. I have already bought a big roll of burlap. I have lots of buds on my bush, but no flowers yet. Thanks again. be well. Richie
Pacnorwest, They are beautiful. Mine are just bushes and only about 10-12 inches tall. I only planted them 2 months ago. But, one bush has lots of little buds, been that way for about 10 days now, can't wait until they flower.
DW is thinking to shrub cut ours. They are nice for shade though. They are as tall as the bradford pears and the river birch trees. Not as tall as the oaks but not that far away either.They are something like 25 years old now. They are shedding bark currently. Another sign if changing seasons I guess.
beautiful how old are they? They are probably to old for a butch hair cut. The bark on the trunks is very cool.
I told Becky that if I cut them I would try for a few inches above ground in the dormancy. They will spring up with maybe more branches, and she can see the flowers again. Now they are so high in the canopy we see them from the road or see the petals that fall and coat the driveway and lawn.
