Whats up with crepe myrtles bloom

[GILBERT]

60-62??? Heck NO she's not "elderly" (I'll be 63 in a couple weeks ). My bad, you referred to her as your "elder" neighbor, so I assumed maybe 80's
OK, I have no idea what the heck happened to make one of your trees change color, then! It's a moot point anyway, since I doubt you'll get that mad at the lilac tree enough to take it down (unless you are seriously OCD about symmetry). Let it be and vive la différence!
Maybe you'll get a yellow one next year (no such thing for crepes, but who knows?)

Martha, i do not mind it one bid. The Lilac one is just as pretty. I am just trying to get you folks to educate me on this. They are pretty for sure, in any color.

Heck!!! i thought anything over 60 was elderly,LOL!!!





GILBERT

[GILBERT]

^^^Dang Gilbert! You just got owned! I kid!

HA! HA!...you are right.

Before i forget ...again....you have a very pretty place.



GILBERT

[Sackett]

There are over 200 varieties of crepe myrtles. Yes, depending on nutrients and soil composition, they could be a different shade.

FYI, unless you have a specific height the crepe myrtles need to be, you ARE NOT "SUPPOSED" to top them every year..... It's what a lot of people do because they see others doing it, much like making mulch volcanos around your tree.

[Lynda]

FYI, unless you have a specific height the crepe myrtles need to be, you ARE NOT "SUPPOSED" to top them every year..... It's what a lot of people do because they see others doing it, much like making mulch volcanos around your tree.

Yay. I knew we needed to cut back on the yardwork, lol.

[GILBERT]

Dang!, i did not know how popular Crepe Myrtles were. Since my young 62 year old "elder" neighbor (sarcasm here Martha, LOL!) pointed what was odd about my Crepe Myrtles this year, i have been keeping an eye out when i drive about. They are everywhere. Most of them Pink but have seen some Lilac, White, and a darker shade of Pink. You are right Martha, no yellow ones. LOL!!

I have a couple of bushes approx 5 ft tall on the outside corners of my backyard that i did not know what they were. This morning while walking outside drinking my coffee i discovered that they have bloomed overnight in a hot pink color. Dang pretty sight, they look like redheaded woodpeckers......so now i know that i have 6 Crepe Myrtles in pink and hot pink, and 1 "lilac"....7 total.

One of my Crepe Myrtles is approx 35 ft tall. "Sackett" said "DO NOT TOP" them. Is there a time when you do, or just let them do there own thing.

Just kidding with you Martha...OK?


GILBERT

[M-2]

Dang!, i did not know how popular Crepe Myrtles were. Since my young 62 year old "elder" neighbor (sarcasm here Martha, LOL!) pointed what was odd about my Crepe Myrtles this year, i have been keeping an eye out when i drive about. They are everywhere. Most of them Pink but have seen some Lilac, White, and a darker shade of Pink. You are right Martha, no yellow ones. LOL!!

I have a couple of bushes approx 5 ft tall on the outside corners of my backyard that i did not know what they were. This morning while walking outside drinking my coffee i discovered that they have bloomed overnight in a hot pink color. Dang pretty sight, they look like redheaded woodpeckers......so now i know that i have 6 Crepe Myrtles in pink and hot pink, and 1 "lilac"....7 total.

One of my Crepe Myrtles is approx 35 ft tall. "Sackett" said "DO NOT TOP" them. Is there a time when you do, or just let them do there own thing.

Just kidding with you Martha...OK?


GILBERT

Of course, it's OK, Gilbert! I am not one to hide my age, ever It is what it is, my husband pretends he still sees me as I was at 25 (and I do the same for him), so it's all good.

Sackett is absolutely correct about not topping crepes. The most one should do is shape the bush into tree form (crepes WANT to be bushes in their natural growth habit; hence, one should select 3-5 trunks and prune away the suckers that inevitably come up from the root system to maintain the tree aspect. As the tree grows, wipe off the new little branches to keep the trunks "clean" until, say, 6-10 feet high when you allow the branching to continue). If the crepe variety is relatively small anyway, you could also clip off the old seed heads in winter, plus any branches less than pencil width. But no need to get on a ladder to do any of this on a 35 footer. Also (on the SHORTER ones), you could clip off the seed heads after they bloom in summer. This will encourage the crepe to put out still more blossoms.

[jmm83164]

If you have them in your yard anywhere near buried pipes remove them ASAP these are extremely destructive trees. I work for the City of Virginia Beach and bet we spend several million a year fixing damage caused by Crepe Myrtles . The will push into iron or PVC pipe swell up and burst the piipe causing major damage.
Mike

[MrWSM]

I've heard the extreme trimming back of crepe myrtles as "Crepe Murder". As others have stated, it is not necessary. It will create "Knuckles" at the base branch where it is trimmed to. I personally don't care for the look. But to each their own.