I just moved into a place with an almost-dead crepe myrtle in the yard, and I'm wondering if it can be saved. I'd appreciate any advice or suggestions. About half the leaves have died and fallen off, and the remaining ones are in big trouble. Small flat white spots, and curling edges. Take a look at the photos for details. This is in central New Mexico (very hot/dry), but it had been getting almost daily water from a drip system. Thank you in advance for your help!
First issue is the watering daily. Crepe myrtles do not require daily watering, after the first year or so in the ground it is best to not water them at all. They live on what they get from Mother Nature. I have 6 in my yards and the five in the ground have never had any supplemental watering (we have had them 32 years and they were about 10 years old when we bought the house), the other one is still in a pot waiting to be put in the ground when I can get back out in the garden. I am not sure what is causing the leaf problem they have, maybe you should contact your local County Extension office and get their opinion. I am in Texas where our spring, summer and falls hover in the low 100s and rain has become as scarce as hens teeth the past few summers.
Hello @aecook welcome to GS and it would help if you didn't mind mentioning what area you live, as it helps members better to help you, knowing what conditions you plants growing in regarding weather and soil Besides @toni good advice this link may help also as I don't have one of those plants sorry https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/crepe-myrtle/crepe-myrtle-tree-problems.htm
I agree with Toni,, we never water ours and they are probably 30 years old ! Those leaves sure are not like my crepe myrtles ! What variety is it ? Some of the leaves look like a bug issue !
