Crepe Murder

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Noah930

I must be doing something wrong. I got a freebie (Crape Myrtle) tree from the City of LA last spring for Earth Day. I don't think it's grown an inch (upwards) since I put it in the ground. It's gotten wider and leafier, but not taller. Heck, I'm still taller than it.

There are many varieties, including dwarfs, which is what you may have.....

[masraum]

Yeah, they seem to be hardy. I've seen folks cut them off almost at the ground and they come back. Most folks cut them near the knuckle. Some folks will occasionally cut the knuckle off too. I've also seen some that were enormous that looked like they'd never been pruned. I've also seen them grown as a single trunk tree.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

It's Crape.

But without Crepe we would not have heard Bill's scintillating story from 1983.

Thank you, thank you. Probably more like 1974.

[javadog]

I haven't trimmed either one of mine in 22 years.

They be huge now...

[p911dad]

This is a 20 year old crape myrtle near us that's been left alone except minor shaping. There are plenty around Charlotte like this.

[A930Rocket]

It’s a weed. You can’t kill it except with 🔥.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by Baz

There are many varieties, including dwarfs, which is what you may have.....

Great. Figures. City gives me a free tree, and it's a dwarf.

[MBAtarga]

We had 4 trees at the previous house from the previous owner's planting that I trimmed back each year. The trimmings from those 4 trees filled my pickup truck bed! They are pretty - but are a pain to cut back each year and deal with the debris.

[tdw28210]

Originally Posted by p911dad

This is a 20 year old crape myrtle near us that's been left alone except minor shaping. There are plenty around Charlotte like this.

Better to be Crepe Myrtles than Bradford Pears. Now THAT is a 100% garbage tree IMHO.

[KFC911]

Ya can't murder a creep....fall, winter, late spring...above the knuckle (PITA), or below....annualy