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