Best Fertilizers for Crepe Myrtles
- Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N Feed Plant Food 18-6-12. Of course, this continuous-release formula from Miracle-Gro has everything your crepe myrtle needs to flourish.
- Miracle-Gro Tree & Shrub Plant Food Spikes 15-5-10. Miracle-Gro is a leading fertilizer brand with a reputation to match. ...
- Scotts Flowering Tree & Shrub Plant Food 11-7-7. ...
What is the best crape myrtle plant food?
Carl Pool crape myrtle plant food is formulated with plenty of phosphoric acids. This will help your crape myrtle to get more healthy and colorful flowers. This fertilizer is super easy to apply and gives the best results in plant growth and blossom.
What is the best fertilizer for crepe myrtle trees?
Generally, feeding crape myrtles will make your plants look better. You’ll want to start feeding with a general-purpose, well-balanced garden fertilizer. Use 8-8-8, 10-10-10, 12-4-8, or 16-4-8 fertilizer.
How do you take care of a crepe myrtle?
This will ensure the young roots spread properly and become well established. Always water your Crape Myrtles after applying your fertilizer. Then water once a week, or more often if you live in a dry, arid climate. 3.
Can crepe myrtle trees be grown in pots?
Crape myrtles are commonly used in landscaping with various designing possibilities. They can be grown as single-stem trunks, or multi-trunk trees. You can also choose tall varieties that grow over 30, or you can go for dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties. They are also suitable for growing in containers.
What is the best fertilizer for crape myrtle?
Fertilizers including 8-8-8, 10-10-10, 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 will work fine and are ideal for crape myrtles, but don't go overboard. Overfertilizing trees will cause excess growth and reduce the number of blooms on each tree.
Do crape myrtles need fertilizer?
Established, well rooted, Crape Myrtles are heavy feeders. Lightly fertilize every two weeks throughout the spring and summer months. This will promote optimal new growth. Remember, Crape Myrtles only bloom on new growth.
How much fertilizer does a crape myrtle need?
Fertilizer for Crape Myrtles8-8-8 or 10-10-101 lb. per 100 sq. ft12-4-8 or 16-4-8½ lb. per 100 sq. ft
How can I make my crepe myrtle bloom better?
To make your crepe myrtle bloom, apply a high-phosphorus, low-nitrogen fertilizer in a slow-release formula in early spring. Alternatively, fertilize regularly throughout the growing season. Younger trees need monthly feeding, while more established trees benefit from being fertilized every two weeks.
Are coffee grounds good for crepe myrtles?
The answer is yes! Coffee grounds make an excellent ground mulch, especially for acid-loving plants.
What causes crepe myrtle leaves to yellow?
Most commonly, drought or a lack of moisture will cause crepe myrtles leaves to yellow and prematurely fall. What is this? Your plant might also have a bacterial disease or fungus, which will also start as yellowing foliage. This is also known as 'leaf scorch' and tends to affect crepe myrtles during the summertime.
Can you overwater a crape myrtle?
Take special care not to overwater your Crape Myrtle, especially during the spring and summer months when the plant is actively growing. Overwatering your Crape can cause its flower production to be stunted or lead to root rot and other problems.
How do you fertilize a crape myrtle?
If using an 8-8-8- or 10-10-10 fertilizer, use one pound of fertilizer for every 100 square feet of the planting bed for small shrubs and dwarf varieties. For large crape myrtle trees and shrubs, increase the amount of fertilizer and use a pound of fertilizer per inch of the tree's diameter.
How often should I water my crepe myrtle?
Crape Myrtle Water Requirements Crepe myrtle likes a medium amount of water and prefers consistently moist soils where it can get it. However, once established, it is quite drought-tolerant and will subsist on a deep watering – to a depth of 6 inches or so – once or twice per month, reports Wilson Brothers Gardens.
What would cause a crepe myrtle to not bloom?
Not enough sunshine will curtail blooms on a crape myrtle. Being in a place where the tree does not get significant sunshine is a recipe for a non blooming tree. Make sure that the tree is not planted in an under-story position as the shade from larger trees and shrubs will block the needed sunshine to the tree.
Should you cut dead blooms off crepe myrtle?
Many varieties of crape myrtles can be encouraged to bloom a second time, but timing is important. Deadheading crape myrtles (removing dead or dying flowers) encourages new sprouts and blooms, but if you deadhead too late in the season, the tender new growth that is produced can be damaged by cold weather.
Why is my crepe myrtle tree not blooming?
If your plants only get a half-day of sun, or if they get shaded by a larger tree at some point during the day, they might not bloom as much as you'd like. Drought: If the summer has been extremely dry, your crape myrtles may have gone dormant.
How often should I water my crape myrtle?
This will ensure the young roots spread properly and become well established. Always water your Crape Myrtles after applying your fertilizer. Then water once a week, or more often if you live in a dry, arid climate. 3. When to Discontinue Fertilization and Regular Watering.
When should I fertilize myrtles?
Fertilize in Spring. Begin fertilizing in Spring with the fertilizer of your choice (liquid, slow release or granules), when the first leaves start to appear. Established, well rooted, Crape Myrtles are heavy feeders. Lightly fertilize every two weeks throughout the spring and summer months. This will promote optimal new growth.
How long do crape myrtles bloom?
for detailed instructions. These are the simple Secrets for growing Crape Myrtles that bloom for 5 or even 6 months per year. Remember Crape Myrtles are different from any other woody perennial in that they bloom on NEW GROWTH MADE IN SPRING AND SUMMER.
What is the best fertilizer for soil?
The easiest to use and most well known fertilizer is Miracle Gro.
Do you have to prune a crape myrtle in winter?
It essentially toughens up the plant so it may withstand the drier, colder conditions of winter. It's during this winter dormancy that you'll want to prune your Crape Myrtle if you so desire. See our.
Do crape myrtles bloom all summer?
Everyone wants to get the most blooms from their Crape Myrtles. By following these simple instructions your Crape Myrtles will bloom all summer long and amaze your friends and family. One rule of thumb to always remember, Crape Myrtles Only Bloom on New Growth! So more new growth equals more blooms.
How to stimulate a new growth of a crape myrtle?
For an extra boost, you can water your newly planted crape myrtle with a solution of Root Stimulator, which stimulates early root formation and stronger root development. Root Stimulator reduces plant shock and promotes greener, more vigorous plants. During the First Active Growing Season.
What is the best soil for crape myrtle?
Crape myrtle grow best in an acid to slightly acid soil ranging from 5.5 to 6.5 on the pH scale. Most average garden soils fall between a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0. If you're unsure about the pH of your soil, or whether or not it's suitable for growing crape myrtle, it's a good idea to test the soil pH in the planting area.
What is the pH of a crap myrtle?
Crape myrtle grow best in an acid to slightly acid soil ranging from 5.5 to 6.5 on the pH scale.
Can crape myrtle be grown in containers?
When growing in the ground, crape myrtle shrubs and trees are exceptionally easy to grow and care for. Crape myrtle growing in containers will require a little more attention to watering and more fertilizer. Here's a breakdown of what you need to know regarding feeding and watering Ligustrum plants...
What is a crape myrtle?
Last Update May 29, 2021 by Autem Decker Leave a Comment. Crape myrtles are beautiful ornamental flowering trees that come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. They are across the board sun-loving plants and also pretty drought-tolerant ones. If you water and fertilize them properly, they will bloom your home way too beautifully than you imagined. ...
How big do crape myrtles get?
The most beautiful thing about crape myrtles is that they come in all shapes and sizes. From tiny shrubs that get only three to two feet tall and wide to medium-size varieties. And then it has all the way to tree size varieties that reach 25 feet in height.
When do crape myrtles bloom?
The primary feature of crape myrtle is its beautiful flowers which happen in late spring and usually about the first half of the summer. However, you also get some residual flowers right through the end of summer. The small growing dwarf varieties make excellent foundation plants in front of your windows.
Is crape myrtle hardy?
Crape myrtles are hardy in zone seven to nine, absolutely worth a try in ten A and six B. In areas like six-eight , the winters are harsh, and these trees get completely killed back to the ground. Many people put straw around their base in the wintertime and get killed down top that straw level and suddenly come back in the summer.
Does Carl Pool crape myrtle plant food have phosphoric acid?
Carl Pool crape myrtle plant food is formulated with plenty of phosphoric acids.
Do crape myrtles need fertilizer?
Most people don’t know that the crape myrtles need slow-releasing fertilizers that last for a long time. They need fertilizer specially made for them only. Here we have gone through the whole bunch of fertilizer for crape myrtle available in the market and picked out the best of them for you.
Do crape myrtles die in winter?
As a result, these plants are treated as almost like an herbaceous perennial (plants which die to the ground in winter and come back every year). Always fertilize the crape myrtles right before they break dormancy. The crape myrtles tend to break dormancy later than other plants.
What type of soil does crape myrtle like?
Crape myrtle will thrive in almost any type of soil – sandy, clay or loamy. However, they prefer slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5 to 7.5). If the soil is too alkaline, the foliage may turn yellow. Plant crape myrtle in the fall or early spring. Put the plant in the hole deep as the nursery container, but twice as wide.
What is a crape myrtle?
Crape myrtle (or crape myrtle) are summer-flowering trees and shrubs of the Lagerstroemia genus . The genus consists of around 50 species and hundreds of selected cultivars of deciduous trees and shrubs that are cultivated in warm climates. Crape myrtles are mainly grown for their long-lasting flowers with the color varying from white, lilac, pink, ...
How fast do crape myrtles grow?
One of the best things about crape myrtles is that they are fast-growers. They can grow up to 3 feet per year. Where, When and How to Plant Crape Myrtle. Crape myrtles are native to tropical and subtropical regions and are extremely heat-tolerant.
Do crape myrtles bloom in the fall?
But besides their showy flowers that last throughout the entire summer (in some varieties until the first frost), crape myrtles offer a year-round interest – the foliage provides the interest during the fall, while the shedding bark has an attractive appearance during the winter.
Is crape myrtle a shrub?
Known as the ‘Lilac of the south’, crape myrtle is grown for its flowers that have a very long bloom in the summer. Crape myrtle can be grown as a tree or a shrub, while the flowers come in a wide range of colors. If you’d like to give crape myrtle a go, take a look at this useful care guide. What is a Crape Myrtle?
Can crape myrtles grow in containers?
They can be grown as single-stem trunks, or multi-trunk trees. You can also choose tall varieties that grow over 30, or you can go for dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties. They are also suitable for growing in containers.
Can I grow crape myrtle in Zone 6?
L. indica × L. faueri hybrids – These hybrids are completely resistant to powdery mildew and are more hardy than the common crape myrtle, so you can grow them in the zone 6 as well. Some of the popular hybrids are: ‘Tuskarora’, ‘Siren Red’, ‘Dynamite’.
Crepe Myrtle Care
This species of Lagerstroemia is generally a lower maintenance selection. Though low maintenance, there are some things you can do to help get the best blooms from your crepe myrtle and ensure that your tree thrives. As always, it all starts with planning and selecting the right location.
Types of Lagerstroemia Indica
Lagerstroemia indica is just one plant of a genus containing 50 or so species. Straight species of L. indica are not sold in the nursery trade so you will always be buying a cultivar or hybrid, but unfortunately, they are not often marked well and the tag will just say "Crepe Myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica.
Pruning
Pruning your crepe myrtle is a chore that needs to be done for a few reasons. Pruning can aid in bloom production and help beautify the plant by exposing the exfoliating bark, increasing seasonal interest, and establishing the best size and form by removing suckers and errant branches.
Common Pest and Plant Diseases
Luckily crepe myrtles don't deal with too many pest issues, but they are susceptible to powdery mildew, sooty mold, and other fungal infections. The best way to deal with these issues is, of course, prevention.
Crepe Myrtle Care
All crepe myrtles bloom on new wood and should be pruned in winter or early spring. On large shrubs and trees, remove basal suckers, twiggy growth, crossing branches, and branches growing toward the center of the plant. Also gradually remove side branches up to a height of 4–5 ft.; this exposes the handsome bark of the trunks.
Types of Crepe Myrtle Trees
L. fauriei. Native to Japan. Tree to 20–30 ft. tall and wide, with erect habit and outward-arching branches. Light green leaves to 4 in. long and 2 in. wide turn yellow in fall. Especially handsome bark: the smooth gray outer bark flakes away to reveal glossy cinnamon brown bark beneath.
Crepe Myrtle Pruning Tips
When pruning a crepe myrtle, don't chop your large crepe myrtles down to ugly stubs each spring just because your neighbors do. This ruins the natural form and encourages the growth of spindly, whiplike branches that are too weak to hold up the flowers.
What is the name of the flower that is spelled Crepe Myrtle?
By Joanne Marie. When it comes to showy, colorful blossoms, few plants can compete with the crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) -- which is also sometimes spelled crepe myrtle.
Do crape myrtles need sun?
Crape myrtles grow well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 9. They flower best in full sun, although when grown in areas with hot summers they should receive light shade in the afternoon heat. These plants also need regular moisture.
