DFW Area Landscaper
05-18-2006, 10:21 AM
The last few years, I noticed the landscape company that maintains a Taco Bell in my area always pruned the crep myrtles right after the first freeze.
I like the idea of removing all those dead seed heads and cleaning them up sooner rather than later. So, the last two seasons I pruned my crep myrtles right after the first frost...around December 1st or so.
This year, my crepe myrtles have been VERY slow to break dormancy. While many crepe myrtles around town started flowering this week, mine are just now starting to really green up.
Half the crepe myrtles at the Taco Bell are not even breaking dormancy. I think half of them are dead.
It is worth mentioning that we did get a record freeze here on December 10th, shortly after I pruned my crepe myrtles. Our overnight lows got down to 12 & 8 degrees on consecutive nights during that freeze...very cold for our area.
I guess the crepe myrtles can't be pruned that early in the winter without damage. Next year, I think we will start crepe myrtle pruning around the end of January. I am guessing the roots must be sucking down a lot of sap or something from the plant right after the first frost and if you cut all those branches off before the roots get whatever it is that they need, they can be killed.
Just thought I would share this information with others.
Later,
DFW Area Landscaper
I like the idea of removing all those dead seed heads and cleaning them up sooner rather than later. So, the last two seasons I pruned my crep myrtles right after the first frost...around December 1st or so.
This year, my crepe myrtles have been VERY slow to break dormancy. While many crepe myrtles around town started flowering this week, mine are just now starting to really green up.
Half the crepe myrtles at the Taco Bell are not even breaking dormancy. I think half of them are dead.
It is worth mentioning that we did get a record freeze here on December 10th, shortly after I pruned my crepe myrtles. Our overnight lows got down to 12 & 8 degrees on consecutive nights during that freeze...very cold for our area.
I guess the crepe myrtles can't be pruned that early in the winter without damage. Next year, I think we will start crepe myrtle pruning around the end of January. I am guessing the roots must be sucking down a lot of sap or something from the plant right after the first frost and if you cut all those branches off before the roots get whatever it is that they need, they can be killed.
Just thought I would share this information with others.
Later,
DFW Area Landscaper