Crape myrtles (or Crepe Myrtle) are one of the most pleasing blooming trees you can grow in your landscape. Crape Myrtles are known for their showy summer bloom displays and the smooth textured bark.
Plants by Mail offers a great selection of Crape Myrtles from the Southern Living Plant Collection. The Delta series of Crape myrtles have uniquely dark burgundy leaves and is available in a variety of colors. The Early Bird™ Crape myrtle trees are dwarfs whose mature sizes average 6 ft in height and 3-4 ft in width. These dwarfs are ideal for gardens with a small amount of available space.
Growing a healthy Crepe Myrtle isn’t the most difficult task and we are here to make sure you have all of the information you need to succeed. Ideally you will want to place your tree in a location that receives bright light for a minimum of 6 hours per day. If you are interested in a plant that responds well to part or full shade… unfortunately, this is not the one!
As long as they are provided with the necessities your tree should thrive for years to come.
If you are interested in growing the most stunning Crape Myrtle trees possible you will want to place your tree in acidic soil. If you are unsure of your soil type, be sure to pick up a home test kit while you are here! Another thing to consider is if your soil is well draining or not as well draining soil is a necessity.
This is common question, but also very important. If you find that you soil isn’t acidic enough, you may opt to fertilize with a water-soluble acidic fertilizer each spring.
Throughout the first year of growth make sure that your trees soil remains consistently wet, but not soggy. Once settled into its new home feel free to dial back the watering to once a week, possibly less.
Let’s just get this out of the way now… DO NOT prune your Crape Myrtle trees down to stumps! These are trees, not shrubs, so allow them to reach their full potential. Crepe Myrtles blooms form on new growth and should be pruned in the late winter or early spring. Pruning of your Crepe Myrtle should be a carefully done task to allow wildlife and fresh air to circulate through it freely.
