gardening question

Margo · #1 10-12-2003, 11:18 AM

Hey fellow southern gardeners,

Got a question maybe someone can answer. I have a crape myrtle in my front yard that I have never pruned (lived in my house for 2 years). I have heard and read varying opinions about this. To prune or not to prune? That is the question. Any answers? Also, if to prune is the answer, when is the best time to do so? My neighbors just pruned theirs. (They have a wonderful green thumb so I am thinking maybe I should follow their lead). Or should I wait until late winter/early spring? Any help would be appreciated.

Amanda · #2 10-12-2003, 12:16 PM

Hi Margo,
I always wonder about pruning, too. My mother in law has worked at greenhouses most of her life, and she tells my husband to prune things in the spring. I looked this up using google and I found:

http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1009.htm

It's funny, becuase there is a line in there that says...

Quote:

others see their neighbors doing it and feel the need to follow suit

#3 10-12-2003, 12:22 PM

Gram (my grandmother) had several Crape Myrtles in her yard and never pruned them. They were always gorgeous. Of course Gram could keep any plant at all alive. Needless to say her green thumb didn't pass on to me!

Christy

Upsadaisy · #4 10-12-2003, 02:35 PM

I had a Crepe Myrtle in my old house. My neighbor grew them from seeds from her trees. It was only about 6 feet tall but beautiful. I didn't trim mine. It had been nurtured along in a tree shape, but you can leave them as bushes, too. I think the choice is yours.

Margo · #5 10-12-2003, 02:39 PM

I want it to be tree shaped. But it has been very leggy this season with very few flowers. I see such beautiful full crapes all over the place and see mine and get very depressed. I have never had a green thumb.