The crape myrtle is a beautiful flowering shrub that can add color and beauty to any garden. Next, you should check the soil around the crape myrtle. During the summer, crepe myrtles should be watered deeply once a week. If youre a woman, you must listen intently to the lyrics of a Kanye West song. Lets discuss the most concerning. Be sure to take extra care when pruning and fertilizing, as these treatments can be damaging if done incorrectly. That's great to hear! Remove a leaf bud and cut it in half. To learn about more reasons your Crape might be behaving this way, check out this article. Input your search keywords and press Enter. Please reach out to one of our team at TreeNewal as soon as possible because powdery mildew can pose a real threat to your Crepe Myrtle. If the murder has been going on for many years, drastic measures may be necessary. You should also make sure to water the tree regularly to keep the soil moist and encourage new growth. This is usually a sign of an iron deficiency, which can be remedied with a fertilizer that contains iron. Other people commit Crape Murder because they believe that heavy pruning will result in more blooms when the growth comes back. Dont expect any shoots just yet. The shrub should be placed in a location that is sheltered from strong winds, to prevent damage to the flowers and foliage. 3 Why are the leaves on my crepe myrtle turning white? : Tips and Tricks to Understand and Fix the Issue. Crepe myrtle is affectionately called the lilac of the south by Southern gardeners and is valued for its long blooming season and low maintenance. It could be sick or even dying, and if so, you must act fast. If youve only been butchering for a year or so, you can choose new branches as primaries and prune away the rest, letting the tree grow back naturally. Gardeners should ensure that the soil is well-draining and that the shrub is planted in an area that is sheltered from strong winds. It is also important to choose a spot that is not overly shaded by other plants, buildings, or other structures. Fertilizing crepe myrtles is an important part of keeping them healthy and vibrant. In those cases, whoever planted it selected a Crape Myrtle that was too large for the site. Those leaves will also turn fall colors and drop earlier than the other leaves. Do that by cutting off any side branches growing in the wrong direction. Make sure to use sharp pruning shears and cut just above a leaf node or bud. Organic mulches such as wood chips, shredded bark, and leaves are all great options for mulching around a crepe myrtle. The first step is to identify the cause of the distress. Additionally, if you notice any signs of pest infestation, take steps to address the issue as soon as possible. Trim away all the other new sprouts, leaving just three or four healthy limbs. Ill never forget the year that I hired landscapers to trim my shrubs and clean up my Crape Myrtle. More than likely, it suffered cold damage during the winter. Train the Rescued Shoots. Fungus can also grow on honeydew secretions that pests leave behind. When that plant makes its comeback, new growth will come from the ground leaving behind seemingly dead tops. Thank you so much for your kind words! If you find that it has not, then be sure to provide it with the essential nutrients it needs to stay healthy and vibrant. The crepe myrtle requires significant sunshine in order to bloom. If you notice that the tree is not producing new leaves and no buds are forming, this could be a sign that the tree is not getting enough water or nutrients. Are there any other plants in the vicinity of the crape myrtle that are also exhibiting unusual signs of distress? Tools I Use - https://kit.com/HortTube/gardening-toolsPropagation Materials - https://kit.com/HortTube/propagation-and-irrigationReference Books - https://ki. When you make purchases through links on our site, we earn a small commission. Whether it lands on the leaves or branches or is absorbed through the root system, it can be very damaging or fatal to your Crape Myrtle. Keep Going: Continue this process every spring for several years, pruning away any new shoots other than those you selected to be your main branches. Most issues can be handled easily if you catch them early enough. If you have an aphid problem, you will find this honeydew dripping from your Crepe Myrtle tree in the spring. Dont let any new shoots grow from the ends of the stumps next to the ones you saved. In this article, well discuss how to tell if your Crape Myrtle is suffering from something more severe than minor health issues. But, how do you know when something more severe is afflicting your Crape Myrtle? Not providing enough water will result in a water-stressed plant that can lose its foliage. "https://" : "http://" ); (function(){var s=document.createElement('script');s.src=bbbprotocol + 'seal-dallas.bbb.org' + unescape('%2Flogo%2Ftreenewal-90940607.js');s.type='text/javascript';s.async=true;var st=document.getElementsByTagName('script');st=st[st.length-1];var pt=st.parentNode;pt.insertBefore(s,pt.nextSibling);})(); 2023 Copyrights. You should place it in a spot in your landscape that gets at least six hours of sun a day. Since fall is the time to plant spring blooming bulbs, here are the answers to some common questions about bulbs. During dry spells, water is mandatory. Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale: Another creator of honeydew is the Crepe Myrtle bark scale (or CMBS). Thank you for your feedback! 5. Eventually, your crepe myrtle will look beautiful again. Learn more about TreeNewals ISA Certified Arborists! In a few years the new sprouts will have thickened to nearly the size of the original trunk. Have I killed my crepe myrtle? they ask. While your Crape Myrtle is dormant, it might look dead. Crepe myrtle has a moderate to long life span. Crepe myrtles are beautiful, flowering trees that can add a splash of color to any landscape. By following these steps, you should be able to revive a crepe myrtle and get it back to its former glory. More Pruning: Once winter arrives and your Crape Myrtle is barren of leaves and dormant, youll do another round of pruning. Dwarf and short types need only minor, cosmetic pruning. If you cannot find any evidence of fertilizer or other nutrients, then it is likely that your crape myrtle has not been given any recently. Stay up to date on the most relevant issues affecting trees in DFW. You'll receive two emails a month packed with resources to help your trees thrive. Getting rid of powdery mildew can be tricky, so its better to try to avoid it in the first place by choosing a fungus-resistant variety of Crepe Myrtle if you have the option. Select one or two sprouts per trunk only and prune off the rest. What are the common signs of a dying crepe myrtle? New Garden Gazebo3811 Lawndale Dr. Greensboro, NC 27455 (336) 288-8893 LINK TO STORE HOURS, New Garden Landscape Services & Administration5577 Garden Village Way Greensboro, NC 27410 (336) 665-0291, New Garden Winston-Salem1312 Old Salisbury Rd. Why Choose Plants from Southern Living Plant Collection. However, some Crepe Myrtle trees do like to sleep in late, so if you dont see any signs of damage or disease, then dont panic too much if theyre a little late to the party. Dont go overboard with pruning until you know the extent of the damage. How about a dozen of em? Prune out branches that cross and those that head into the tree center to allow air into the crepe myrtles. Even just a small amount of herbicide can get caught in the wind and land on nearby plants that you dont want to harm. If you notice this, you should take steps to address the issue as soon as possible. One of the most common signs of a dying crepe myrtle is wilting or drooping of the leaves. When it comes to water and sunlight, the crape myrtle requires a moderate amount of both. This will take some time, and youll have to deal with its mangled appearance in the meantime. Make sure to use a fertilizer specifically made for crepe myrtles to get the best results. We will update our content. Additionally, it is important to watch for signs of disease and pests. Additionally, if you notice that the plants are not flowering as they normally would, or are not producing as much fruit as they usually do, this could also be a sign of distress. The best time to prune a crepe myrtle is in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. Rejoice! If these buds are present, it is a sign that the crape myrtle is alive and healthy. Eventually, the root system will start to develop root rot, which can be a fatal condition if not addressed. Luckily this ailment doesnt live through the winter. I'm so sorry to hear about your crape myrtle! Don't forget to sterilize your pruning tool by dipping it in bleach. This leaves flower-laden branches flopping to the ground, especially after a summer rain, where you have to limbo or hurdle them to pass. Signs that your Crepe Myrtle is dying or dead. Before you start chopping away at what you thought was a dead Crape Myrtle, make sure its not still dormant. It is native to parts of China, India, and Korea, and is widely grown in the United States. Additionally, you may need to amend the soil in order to improve drainage or increase the nutrient content if necessary. For a more natural look, vary the height of the cuts a bit. It is not frost-tolerant and can suffer damage if temperatures drop below 20 F (-7 C). Inspect the leaves, flowers, buds and stems of the crape myrtle for a black, fuzzy growth. Like people and animals, sometimes trees get sick. The saved shoots will become the new main trunks. Why Your Crape Myrtle is Crying, Weeping and Dripping Water, Top 11 Reasons Your Crape Myrtle May Be Wilting, Curling or Dying Back, No green growth underneath the bark layer, Crape Myrtle hasnt leafed out by late June or July, Crape Myrtle loses its leaves during summer. There are several types of Crepe Myrtles. Most experts agree that peer pressure is the culprit or a monkey see, monkey do mindset. Luckily, Crape Myrtles are tough and can survive most conditions that some other, more delicate plants cannot. Cut away all the remaining growth, leaving just these trunks behind. So, your Crape Myrtle may be healthy even though its suffering from a cosmetic issue. Additionally, if no new leaf growth appears in the spring, it is a sign of a dead tree. Heres what you need to know about the disease. Dig around the root system to see if the roots are dead or alive. Remove suckers at the base, twiggy growth, crossing branches, and branches growing toward the center of the plant. Yes, it is normal for crape myrtle trees to lose their leaves in the fall. at tel:(817) 592-6846 or send us a message. If that doesnt do the trick, reach out to TreeNewals ISA Certified Arborists for assistance. Make sure to enhance the look of the tree carefully. When severe pruning produces knots throughout the tree, you may be able to make them less noticeable by careful pruning. In order to identify whether or not other plants in the vicinity are also exhibiting signs of distress, you should begin by performing a visual inspection. Keep doing this every spring for the next three years. Crape Myrtles and Pollinators: Are Crapes Good for Bees? Do that by following the careful pruning instructions we discussed earlier to help your Crape Myrtle grow back into its natural shape. Yes, your Crape Myrtle will look a little mangled for a while, but thats all part of the process! I recently revived a crepe myrtle in my backyard and all I did was trim off the dead branches, then fertilize the soil and water it regularly. This is a more recent addition to our list of potential ailments, as it was first identified in Texas in 2004; however, it has quickly made its presence known and is now one of the most common Crepe Myrtles pests in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. TreeNewal. 7 Signs Your Plant Might Be Suffering. As a general rule of thumb, dont remove more than 1/3 of the foliage and branches. In more severe cases, you may have to do a major rejuvenation of your Crape, which is a drastic measure. Depending on your cultivar, your Crape may even take a few extra weeks of slumber, so patience is key. Eventually, your crepe myrtle will look beautiful again. Those branches should be trimmed to grow upward and away from the trees center. It is awesome. Yellowing Leaves: One of the most obvious signs that your crepe myrtle needs fertilization is yellowing leaves. Are they cut clean like those above? If you do find signs of damage or disease, make sure to take action quickly to prevent the spread of the infection. Abbie is a plant-loving freelance writer from Florida. Crape Myrtles dont usually die after severe pruning, but they never grow to their full potential or look as beautiful as they would be otherwise. If youre a gardener looking to revive a crepe myrtle, there are several treatments that can be used to help bring it back to life. You should fertilize your trees at least three times a year: once in early spring, once again in mid-summer, and then again in late summer or early fall. Fertilizer or other nutrient-rich products, such as compost, will be easy to spot and will likely be visible near the base of the plant or in the soil around it. Eventually, the Crape Myrtle will return to its natural form. Fungal growth takes place from spring through early fall. Look for signs of discoloration, wilting, curling, or drooping. "The extra moisture is why my pots get nice and mossy." It may be necessary to remove the too-large crapes and replace them with a variety of a more suitable size. When the roots are too far underneath the ground, your Crape Myrtle will have trouble getting water, nutrients, and oxygen. It had gotten too big for me to reach myself, so I asked for some light thinning and shaping to get it ready for spring. Though any tall variety can make a tree, at some point one winter will be so harsh that the crape myrtle will die back to the ground. No, you probably havent killed it. Clean up your pruning tools Once youre done pruning, make sure to clean up your tools. Common treatments for disease and pests include chemical sprays, as well as natural remedies such as neem oil or insecticidal soaps. Oh no, I'm sorry to hear your crape myrtle is struggling! Why are the leaves on my crepe myrtle turning white? Examine the tops of the stumps you left. Compare the dead looking trees on the . In areas with high temperatures and dry conditions, it is best to water the crape myrtle more often, as it is prone to drought stress. What steps can be taken to properly prune a crepe myrtle? Prune to the desired shape Depending on the type of pruning youre doing, you can prune the crepe myrtle to the desired shape. Servicing The Dallas & Fort Worth Metroplex. Even if it doesnt kill your Crape Myrtles, weed and grass killers can cause herbicide injury. Fortunately, observing the crape myrtle is an easy task that can provide gardeners with the information they need to determine the trees health. Additionally, check the soil for any signs of nutrient deficiency and adjust accordingly. Well cover some of the main reasons your Crape Myrtle could be dying and what you can do about it. Crepe myrtles need freezing temperatures followed by warm weather so that it will know when to break dormancy. Every spring I wonder to myself whether my Crape Myrtles survived the winter. 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Will come from the ground, your Crape myrtle more reasons your Crape myrtle is an easy task can! Cause unsightly knots, uncontrollable growt to allow air into the tree carefully extra weeks of slumber, so is... Two sprouts per trunk only and prune off the rest know when to break dormancy a that. Myrtles need freezing temperatures followed by warm weather so that it will know when something more severe afflicting...