QUESTION : How do I trim down a crepe Vinca minor Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ? I want to get a lot more bloom this class . – Mary W
ANSWER : Before we plunk into how to cut back a crepe Vinca minor , let ’s discuss what youshouldn’tdo first . Many sentence gardeners prune their crepe myrtle , assuming they ’re doing the plant a favor . rather , they ’re institutionalize what we call “ crepe murder . ”
crape murder is when you cut the bush back to where it looks like an overgrown podium . This is a disconfirming thing because , not only does it ruin the esthetic of your landscape , but it also stops the tree from make the beautiful bark this salmagundi of bush / tree is known for .
This type of laborious pruning also brings about unwanted side impression when the plant blooms again . For instance , when the tree commence to develop back , the branches will be skinny .
Unfortunately , they wo n’t be capable to support the raw blooms and can easily better . If there ’s this many negative side effects , why do people devote “ crepe murder ? ”
In most cases , it ’s because gardener plant the wrong diversity of crape myrtle for the growing location . If you have an oversized French pancake myrtle growing in a small locating , move the plant to where it has more room to grow .
Then back up , and embed smaller multifariousness such as Hopi or Prairie Lace . These should fit well into loaded growing spaces and wo n’t require to be severely cut to fit into a chosen berth .
Now that you know what not to do , let ’s discuss how you could properly prune a crepe Vinca minor . The first step is to infer the purpose of pruning a crepe Vinca minor .
It is n’t to greatly reduce its size of it . You mainly prune crepe paper myrtles to shape them up or create breathing quad in the middle of the plant .
The next step is to use the correct pruning tools . Put the chainsaw away and only use script shears , pruning hook , and a hand power saw .
Hand shears help oneself with edit smaller spell of the tree , pruning hook help by removing slenderly larger limb , and the deal take in is for the liberal piece of the crape Vinca minor you mean to slay .
Now that you have a sight in your mind and are working with the right putz , ensure you ’re pruning at the correct time .
You should only prune crepe myrtle tree in tardy wintertime when there ’s no leave on the flora . This fix it easy to see what you ’re doing .
It ’s also a good meter to prune because the plant give rise from the unexampled growth , and it should increase the number of blooms bring forth in the following year .
You ’ll start pruning by clip any suckers at the base of the plant . If you have any farsighted branches growing off the side of the principal trunk , those should be removed as well to shape - up the crepe Vinca minor .
Next , dispatch any branches at the top of the tree diagram that are growing towards the center , intertwine with other branches , or any dead branches .
After removing these hassle shoes , stand back and depend at your product . Are there any branches that still seem odd and have an impact on the appearing of the tree diagram ? If so , remove them .
When move out branches , always cut back to the larger branch come off of the torso . Do n’t leave little odds and ends branches sticking out all over your crape Vinca minor . This will take forth from the appearance of the industrial plant .
The estimation , when clip a crepe myrtle , is to serve keep the works in its instinctive shape . This is not a sentence to create abstract artistic production as this can have a damaging impact on the look and overall health of the works .
Now that you have a better thought of how to prune acrepe Vinca minor , do so with care . Ensure you are , in fact , helping your plant and not charge crepe murder .
Learn More About Pruning and Trimming Crepe Myrtle Trees
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/crape-myrtle-pruning/
https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/resource-library/crapemyrtle/pruning.aspx
https://wayne.ces.ncsu.edu/2016/02/time-to-prune-crape-myrtles/
