CRAPE MYRTLE PRUNING- A MUST SEE | expert pruning secrets, a BIG issue, & arborist q&a revealed

Dive into the art of crape myrtle pruning with our special guest, a certified arborist, who shares expert techniques on proper pruning, repair strategies for improperly pruned trees, and answers your most pressing questions. Whether you're fixing a 'crape murder' or aiming for healthy, beautiful trees, this video is your ultimate guide. Don't miss our exclusive arborist Q&A session for tailored advice and tips.
A big thank you to Chase from Xylem Tree Care for his time. He was under the weather but still was so helpful and full of knowledge. :-)
Thank you so much for watching! Don't forget to let me know your thoughts on the video and if you feel it helped you.
Have a great day,
Kim, The Southern Daisy
Zone 7b/8a North Carolina
Links & Info For You:
How To Prune A Crape Myrtle ➡️ • HOW TO PRUNE A CRAPE M...
If you are interested in learning how to start seeds indoors as a beginner or need a refresher, this course is for you. No matter what time of year it is, you can still start seeds anytime. Copy and Paste this link to find out more and SIGN UP!!!!
thesoutherndai...
Find Your Planting Zone! garden.org/nga...
Let's Be Garden Buddies:
⟡ Instagram: / @thesoutherndaisyllc
⟡ TikTok: @thesoutherndaisyllc
⟡ Facebook Group: / thesoutherndaisy
⟡ Pinterest: / thesoutherndaisyllc
⟡ Website: thesoutherndai...
⟡ Email: [e-mail]

[@cacticollector6542]

I moved to a suburban neighborhood that has crêpe myrtles lining the streets and I have fallen in love with them. Unfortunately I live in a mobile park and I don’t have any room for one, but I’m happy to admire them in my city. They are beautiful I love the blooms and I love the bark.

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

How amazing. I can’t believe we are fortunate enough to have such beautiful trees to look at. I’m like you and don’t have any but I enjoy all the ones around me ☺️

[@BG-bj1mf]

One of the best videos on Crape Myrtle I have seen in a few hundred over the years.

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

Wow that’s a great compliment. Thabk you so very much

[@Sarahbee-o8t]

I have a huge king white that grows over my sidewalk. I absolutely love this tree. Each spring I take my clippers and walk around it and cut it in an umbrella shape at the bottom. Everyone loves this tree.

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

I bet it’s beautiful ❤

[@ptrhoma]

Wish I could see this tree pruned.

[@TonyMaynard-SD]

My Crepe Myrtle has been neglected for many years now. Consequently the tree is wide because the suckers have matured to be branches. Can I take those out and return to the original, though thicker, base? Will I be able to remove these now mature suckers in a manner that is not unsightly and not a health hazard to the tree? Wonderful video! Now I’m a subscriber.

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

Can you email me a picture of them I want to give you advice but nit without seeing it first [e-mail]

[@MariaSantoy-p6r]

Great video! I will be referring back to this video to make sure I do it right. Thank you 😊

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

That’s amazing. Great idea! I’ll do a pruning how to next week.

[@SnappyR]

Love me my Myrtles~thanks for the video and great information! I only deal with the suckers at the base - as the tree grows it would be hard to prune upwards anyway so I just let them grow...

[@Marie-1964]

Thank you SO very much, Very helpful info. Kim, you are just precious!

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

Thank you sooo much. You’re just making my day great!!!! 😊 😊😊

[@jenniferjefferson7791]

I'm in Indiana and have two crape myrtles. I LOVE them! One is still pretty small, but the other is probably around 6 feet tall. I don't remember the variety or anything. I also didn't prune it at all to begin with, so it probably won't look very tree like. I have pruned it some since and will see if anymore needs done this year.

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

You can look up crêpe myrtles on line and a lot of times find your flower color and the name of it

[@LemonadeGardenLemonadegarden]

Great video, we don't get these trees in Scotland, but very good pruning information, Thank you to you and your family. 😊

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

Scotland wow! How incredible that you’re watching from there. What is your fav tree you have there?

[@cathyhatfield5340]

Good stuff! I live in Florida and I see tons of crape murdered tree! We have tons of to feast on those stressed trees sad.🥴

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

Ahhhh I want to live in Florida too! My whole family is there. When i visit I see the chop job. Yikes!

[@barryfactor8521]

Hi. I was educated by this crape Myrtle video. Just moved into a newly constructed home where they planted a Crape Myrtle. Excellent video. Liked and subscribed.

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

Thank you so much. 😊 remember you don’t have to prune it, just to say you did. Only if it’s needed. If I can answer any questions for you I am here 😊

[@rvpark8327]

Very helpful and makes sense👍

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

Glad it was helpful! That makes me happy! Yes I agree it would be hard to prune the bigger the tree gets so it sounds like you’ve got the right idea 😊

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

I’m so glad! Thank you!!!

[@barbaragrogan1112]

Very helpful information. Outdoors you please address how to reset a crape Myrtle once it gets frozen? During the winter of 2022 we had such cold weather mine died to the ground. I did a little research and am trying to tree form them again, but having difficulty.

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

Oh wow!!! Email me a picture and I’ll help guide you. I can share it with this community too 😊 [e-mail]

[@cjones6string]

thank you for your videos. very helpful. Wondering if I can email you some pictures of a very beautiful crêpe myrtle that I just inherited with the house that I bought. I was literally getting ready to flat top it, until I researched and found your videos and I’m so glad I didn’t. However, this is a very mature tree, and because it looks like it had been properly pruned early on and its life, it is very tall and skinny. I’m talking like 30 to 35 feet tall. That might not be a problem I guess… It’s not causing any issues. It’s just huge so I wondered if I needed to prune it down. Let me know if there’s a way I can send you some pictures to get your opinion. Thank you so much.

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

Absolutely email me at [e-mail]

[@andreaharmon8931]

I have five crepe myrtles all close together. I have no idea the variety. The best way to describe their look is they resemble a poplar tree in the winter. They dont have an umbrella look to the canopy. They are also tall. I watched all your crepe myrtle videos yesterday, thankfully, because I was about to commit crepe murder because I didn't know better. I pruned and cleaned them up but have no idea what to do with the canopy portion. How do I care for the canopy and is there any hope of it getting fuller and umbrella out? Or do i just have a variety that is shaped similar to a poplar tree?

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

If possible email me a picture of yours. I’m not sure what you mean so would rather see it before I answer you.

[@andreaharmon8931]

@@thesoutherndaisyllc where can I find your email information?

[@michaelfirth2420]

I have a HUGE crape myrtle over growing my house. How/ where should, if at all, should I trim it down? It is beautiful and well taken care of from the bottom 10 feet, but is appx 20+ ft tall and growing more every year.

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

Honestly that is personal preference. If it is growing well and looks good you don’t have to cut it back. Think of it like the other trees growing over your house, do you cut back an oak or maple? Well yes if there is an issue or problem but not just to cut it back and check a box. So if it were me, I would enjoy it as it is and not cut it back.

[@evankopald8737]

Just purchased a 40 year old home in Eureka, CA. On a walkway is a crape mytle that needs some help. In that time noone has tended to it. My question to you is should I peel back the bark that covers the main shoot? Just subscribed and will have other questions about caring for my crape myrtle. Enjoyed the first two videos I watched. Evan...

[@juana.dejesus8808]

Kim, I'm from PR and love that tree. I got five color growing right now. I'm looking for a red one. Hopefully I find one soon. Love yoyr videos.

[@carlaephotography7096]

That was very educational! Thank you 😊 My question is how to get them started. I have a couple that are dormant right now and are only 2 foot tall. Do I need to let them just grow for a couple years before pruning anything? Or? Thank you.

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

So nice of you. Yes you don’t have to prune them to say you pruned them if that makes sense. If you don’t have crossing branches or branches over a sidewalk no need to just prune for the sake of it. They will grow and then you can prune as needed. Instead focus on fertilizing when the leaves start to grow as it breaks dormancy ☺️

[@carlaephotography7096]

@@thesoutherndaisyllc OK, will leave them alone. And do as ya say about fertilizer. Thanks so much!

[@dianehoffman3508]

I've got a really tall pink crape myrtle. It could be 20-30 ft. I've forgotten the name. It has never bloomed well. What can I do to encourage more blooms?

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

I feel like I know but I’m going to ask Chase and will get back to you.

[@tedallen5002]

I have 2 Crape Myrtle’s which were sold as dwarf varieties over 20 years ago, but turned out to be large trees. Given their current size, they are both too close to the house and above the roof height allowing squirrels easy access to the roof and eaves to work into the attic. I would like to cut them back at least 6-8 feet wide in the crown and try to work to maintain that height going forward. I saw some one video where it was recommended to cut them back and then the following year cut them back about 4 foot niches above the prior year’s pruning cuts. I appreciate any guidance!

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

Honestly you should do what works best. The designer side of me is saying remove them and plant the right plant. For the location. If you have to cut it back that severely I would wait for February when it’s dormant to not kill the trees. I’m sorry that happened and it’s become a major issue. 😖

[@ElGancho08]

I just installed a crape Myrtle with a single trunk. Could you explain how I get it to stay as a single trunk? What’s the maintenance requirements. Thank you

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

It will naturally stay a single trunk. There are single trunk varieties.

[@wandabarlow4432]

I think I should still prune off the old blooms, am I correct? However, the tree is too tall??

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

No honestly the tree will self prune. You don’t have to cut them off and once you get the winter they will blow away. You really don’t have to do that unless you just really want to. Especially if the tree is really tall, that would be really difficult to do.

[@aidamontalvo9443]

My deer's are driving me crazy. I want to start a small garden in the front on the easterly side and need to know what plants to buy.

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

Honestly, there are many, but without knowing what zone you are in I wouldn’t know what to tell you. My best advice to you is to google your zone and deer resistant plants. You may want to say shrubs or trees, and be specific like that so you can get accurate information

[@IngridScannell]

I short should I prune my myrtles so I don't end up with trees but more like shrubs.

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

You need to do what helps you but keep in mind there’s a beneficial to the tree way to do it.

[@janetomalley2079]

I have a myrtle that is 30 feet tall, it looks terrible, it does not bloom correctly. I live in Marietta Georgia

[@vickirickman9373]

Thank you!! My husband thinks this is how to trim them ha Didn’t seem right to me, but I am not from the south originally It will be nice to tell him this is not how you do it lol For what it’s worth, I had mine looking similar to the one you’re showing in the video and he had some man cut it all the way down to the ground he said It was dead. 🙄🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ Therefore, I am starting out with a little bush on the ground now Once again, thank you so very much for the information

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

You can blame it on me lol. 😂 you’re very welcome. Thanks for sharing your story

[@janetgould6612]

Is it good practice to prune last year’s spent blooms to encourage better blooms for this summer? What is the best way to get the best blooms for the summer?

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

That is an aesthetic decision. If you want to tidy up, the tree feel free, but the tree will bloom regardless of whether you clip those pods off or not. It’s just a personal preference for you.

[@maryfischer8868]

‘

[@Bichons9]

VERY CONFUSING

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

Let me help you to not be confused. Ask any question you have on what you’re confused about and I will get that straightened out for you.

[@Teresa-qq2qp]

Too much talk and no show.

[@thesoutherndaisyllc]

Yea I guess that’s not for everyone. Thank you for watching anyway