How to Grow a Miniature Crepe Myrtle

Planning the bushes and trees that you want to grow in your yard along with flowerbeds can be confusing. If you want a crepe myrtle, it may be too large for your area. Your solution--one of the new varieties of a miniature crepe myrtle or a dwarf crepe myrtle. To grow a miniature crepe myrtle, follow the guidelines much like you would do with a regular crepe myrtle.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Miniature crepe myrtle
• Basic gardening tools
• Mulch and fertilizer

1. Start in the spring and add a good mulch, possibly a mushroom compost type, to the soil where you are going to plant your miniature crepe myrtle. In addition, work some blood and bone fertilizer into the entire bed area. This will really help to make sure that the miniature crepe myrtle will get all the nutrients that it needs.

2. Plant your miniature crepe myrtle in your prepared flowerbed or garden area. This area should have good sunlight and have access to adequate watering, but not in a location that would just hold water. This area needs to have good drainage as well.

3. Expect the growth on this miniature variety crepe myrtle to be just about one foot in height. Also, expect your plant to have more of a weeping habit, which means it should sprawl out wider than a regular crepe myrtle. This miniature variety of crepe myrtle has a more intense coverage of flowers or blooms than the regular variety.

4. Prune the miniature crepe myrtle during the winter or dormant season. Just look at it carefully to prune away any dead areas, empty blooms or some of the little sucker type growths that are growing in undesired areas.

Tips & Warnings

• Should your miniature crepe myrtle appear to not be doing well, consult your nursery or landscape specialist for specific help with your plant.