Crape Myrtle Trees

Mums are the beauties of the fall garden. Choose plants now in a wide variety of colors. Cool season vegetables should be planted right away to ensure good crops this fall. Take house plants outside and wash down dusty leaves. Let them dry in the shade before bringing them back inside.

Planting Tips

• Rose of Sharon, with its hibiscus-like flowers, is a lovely summer bloomer in our climate. It grows 6 to 8 feet tall in full sun or part shade.
• Sow these vegetable seeds directly in the soil: carrots, chard, lettuce, mustard, peas, radish, spinach, and root vegetables. Keep the surface of the soil moist until the seedlings are established.

Crape Myrtle Trees

If you're looking for a small tree to provide year-round beauty, consider a crape myrtle for your landscape. The tree gets its name from the appearance of the flower petals that are crinkled, resembling crepe paper.

• Landscape Uses: Can be planted together to make a large hedge or screen, or in a grove. A single tree can act as a specimen to create a distinctive focal point.
• Growth Habit: Leafs out late in the spring. Large 6-inch flower clusters form on the ends of the branches in midsummer and bloom through summer and fall. Flowers come in vibrant pink, purple, watermelon red, lavender, and white.
• Fall & Winter Interest: Leaves turn yellow, orange, and red before dropping, revealing an attractive trunk and branches. The bark is mottled and smooth, peeling away with age to reveal a reddish-brown color underneath.
• Size: Tree forms (pruned to create one strong central trunk) grow to a maximum height of 15 to 20 feet tall and spread about 10 feet wide.

Care Instructions

• Sunlight: Flowers best in full-sun locations but will tolerate light shade or morning shade. Deep shade is not recommended, as it reduces flowering and increases susceptibility to powdery mildew.
• Watering: Newly planted crape myrtles should be watered often for the first summer to aid establishment. Gradually reduce watering frequency afterward. They prefer moist, well-drained soil but are drought-tolerant once established. More frequent watering promotes faster growth.
• Pruning:
  • Remove suckers on tree forms.
  • Prune old flower clusters to promote additional blooming (not required for flowering).
  • Thin out small twiggy growth from underneath and within the canopy.
  • Avoid cutting main branches or leaving stubs. Allow the tree to develop its natural style—topping ruins its graceful effect.

If you like trees with lots of color and character, the crape myrtle may be the perfect addition to your home landscape.

Posted on Friday, September 16th, 2011.