It seems winter isn't quit over yet, but we are getting ready for Spring!
Walking through our neighborhood keeps us abreast of what most gardeners are doing. Mostly we are all cleaning up from winter, raking up the last of the fallen leaves, pruning dead growth on perennials and shrubs, and pruning roses and trees, including Crape Myrtles. As often seen, someone had committed Crape Murder!!!
Just because some landscape people top off these trees, does not make it right! Crape Myrtles are as valued for their stately, graceful smooth trunks throughout fall and winter as for their splendid color show all summer. They need to be selectively pruned by thinning. Here's a video showing proper pruning technique:
When pruning, please do not murder your Crape Myrtles! We have a Crape Myrtle Garden in Baton Rouge where you can see how they should be pruned properly, in a selective pruning vs. topping the beautiful trunks on these trees. Read more here
Happy Gardening!
Charbel & Ruth
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