Are there any good resources on the best way to trim crape myrtles? Will this tree always end up being a lopsided mess?

I like the privacy it gives our porch, but I'm worried about branches hitting our roof. Is this a losing battle?

by babushka4482

5 Comments

  1. sullimareddit

    This should be a good thread. 🍿🍿🍿

    Crape myrtles tolerate pruning very well and will bloom on the new wood. In this sub, it will be referred to as crape murder (and people hate it) but the Europeans have been pollarding trees forever for formal structure. There are a few things to keep in mind: The structure of the tree will be permanently altered. The repeated pruning to keep it at the size you want will create some lumping on the branches that will only show without leaves. You can Google pollarding and see what that looks like.

    It’s a lovely single form trunk. I’d get someone who knows what they’re doing and try it—you can always remove it later if you don’t like it. I always try to save established plantings. It’s done when it’s dormant.

  2. lawnblades

    Easy to keep under controle. Go on YouTube, put in Trim Crape Myrtle tree. Much easier to watch, then to discrib how to trim the tree.

  3. dollydunn21

    Crape Myrtle’s are very tough trees. We have them all over the gulf coast and people trim and prune them in many different ways. I would just trim anything that touches your house and leave the rest alone.

    Just keep letting it grow and trim when needed.

  4. JawjaBill

    Just echoing what has already been said, no matter what you do, it will come back.

  5. Want2BnOre

    It’s a Tough tree. Natchez white can make a big tree of a crape Myrtle. As stated, you can prune them into submission every year.

    But they are also fairly easy to move when dormant

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