Unfortunately, it is clear from seeing all the stunted crape myrtle branches growing from knobby crape myrtle trunks,  the vast majority of crape myrtle owners are doing more harm than good by improper pruning techniques. 

Without complicating the matter by sharing the wrong way of doing it,

2.   Remove the suckers. Suckers are the little branches that grew last season from odd places at the base of the trunk. 

3.   Measure up about four or five feet from the base of the tree. Any smaller branches growing below that line, from any of the main trunks, should be removed.

4.   Select all the branches, also known as "leads," that are growing toward the center of the tree or in odd directions. Remember that the objective is to encourage the growth of leads that spread outward to create that beautiful canopy of crepe-like flowers in summer. So keep the leads that lend their directional growing course to meet that objective, and thin out the rest.

5.   To thin out the branches you have marked for removal, cut them at the point where they grow from the larger branch or trunk with a nice clean cut flush with the larger branch, without leaving a knobby stub.

6.   Most importantly, do not "top off" your crape myrtle.  If you want to control the height of your crepe myrtle you may cut the leads back to the same height as the shorter leads at the height that you want to encourage.

If you need help or would like to have our licensed arborist from our tree care division to assist, please give us a call at 657-7737.