How to Care for a Crape Myrtle Tree
Crape myrtles are large shrubs or small trees that produce vibrant pink, white, purple or red clusters of flowers during the summer. Place them in your front yard to add curb appeal or use them as a landscape fence. They can reach up to 25 feet high and wide, depending on the cultivar, according to the National Gardening Association. Requiring little care, crape myrtles thrive in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 10. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Soil test
- Water
- Mulch
- Fertilizer tablets
- Balanced fertilizer
- Prune shears
Instructions
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Place the crape myrtle in an area that receives at least six hours of sun each day. Crape myrtles will tolerate almost any soil as long as the pH level is between 5.5 and 7.5, according to Fast Growing Trees. Test your soil with a soil test kit. Make any amendments to the soil, if necessary, by following directions on the test kit.
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Water the crape myrtle regularly during the summer, especially if it is a young or newly planted tree. Crape myrtles are drought-tolerant once established, but they will need to be watered in the hotter months if rainfall is less than 1 inch a week. Apply 2 inches of mulch 3 inches away from the trunk to retain moisture and prevent weeds.
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Fertilize a mature crape myrtle twice a month as it emerges from dormancy in the early spring, then once a month during the summer, using a 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 formula. Fertilize newly planted crape myrtles with a slow-release 10-10-10 formula in the beginning of the growing season.
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Prune the crape myrtle in the spring to produce healthier blooms. Remove dead foliage and branches; branches that rub on another, stronger branch; and any suckers.
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