| Wonderful Ornamental | | | | the length of the branches. The clipping prevents |
| When it comes to growing and particularly to | | | | the limb from shooting on as a long thin branch, |
| pruning Crape Myrtle, it’s necessary to | | | | encourages lateral growth and as mentioned |
| think somewhat outside the box. | | | | before, superior blooms. On the other hand, |
| | | | cutting too far down on the branch, is liable to |
| It is usually chosen however because of its | | | | adversely affect the shape of the tree, |
| amazing flower display in the summer months; | | | | particularly in the winter when it is bare of leaves. |
| Crape Myrtle blooms being one of the highlights of | | | | *It is not necessary to prune/shorten each and |
| the gardening calendar. While being impressed by | | | | every branch. As with all trees, removing |
| flower display alone is normally a bad reason for | | | | excessive material at one session is liable to |
| choosing a particular tree species, in the case of | | | | damage the energy level of the plant, thereby |
| Lagerstroemia, by virtue of its small size and | | | | affecting its overall vitality and rendering it more |
| non-aggressive roots, an exception can be made. | | | | susceptible to pests and disease. |
| In fact the flower color is so significant that | | | | *As pruning is carried out in the winter when the |
| uniquely perhaps among trees, it determines the | | | | tree is out of leaf, it’s quite easy to |
| pruning method to be adopted. | | | | discern where the previous season’s |
| Pruning to shape trees almost always involves | | | | pruning cuts were made. It’s possible |
| removing whole branches at their base, rather | | | | therefore to alternate between cutting limbs that |
| than shortening them, as with shrubs and bushes. | | | | were untouched a year ago, while leaving alone |
| This is so in order to maintain the natural shape | | | | those that were pruned. In this way, a balance is |
| and flow of the tree. Conversely, the branches of | | | | struck between flower production on the one |
| flowering shrubs like roses are shortened, to | | | | hand and the general health of the tree on the |
| induce better and more prolific flowering. It should | | | | other. |
| be remembered that roses are not generally | | | | *Lagerstroemia indica tends to sprout new shoots |
| grown for their form and habit, but virtually | | | | from its base but it’s not necessary to |
| exclusively for their blooms. It follows therefore, | | | | religiously remove each one. On the contrary, as |
| that while we may be interested in enhancing the | | | | the trunks are relatively thin in diameter, Crape |
| floral effect of the Crape Myrtle by means of | | | | Myrtle actually looks better grown as a |
| pruning branches short, care must be taken not | | | | multi-stemmed tree. Furthermore, as persistent |
| to ruin the form of the tree in the process. How | | | | pruning tends to weaken branches in the long run, |
| can this be achieved? | | | | younger stems can be earmarked to replace |
| *Firstly, branches should not be cut back too | | | | older ones which over the years have lost their |
| radically. It’s best to clip up to a third of | | | | vitality. |