How to grow Beautiful Crape Myrtles/Garden Style nw

[@denise-stevens]

My parents had two crape myrtles removed from their yard 25 years ago. Last summer, both of them reappeared! I cleared out space around them as other plants had been planted meanwhile. I had no idea which variety they were, but now I do! Thank you! I’m in Zone 6 and just pruned them so that they have three main trunks on one and five on the other the other.

[@sherrigarver4938]

My daughter bought a 2-3 foot crepe myrtle to use as a Wishing Tree for her Fall wedding years ago. It truely looked dead, but I took it home and planted it anyway. I was thrilled the following Spring when I saw new growth popping out. It's now 10 feet tall and one of my favorite plants in my yard!! 💚🥰

[@janwhite6212]

I hope you know how much you are appreciated!!

[@amerhasanaziz5353]

so usefull video..thank you..ive just paurched 1.5meter long crape Myrtles..with lovely red flowers..i just love it..thank you again..iam in Kurdistan Iraq/Sulaymaniyah

[@elliestell2696]

I live in Alabama and we have always had crêpe myrtles I love them so glad that you are going to have them in your garden now

[@kaylac3367]

Great information on the crape myrtles. Here in the south, in 7a TN, they are plentiful! One thing people should know is that they get lots of suckers. You just dig down as far as you can and clip them off. Otherwise they are low maintenance. I have 5 in my acre yard and really enjoy their beauty and the colorful blooms and shapes and bark! 😁

[@chandirodriguez7551]

My grandmother had three gorgeous crepe myrtles we used to play under in the summer. They were 20 ft tall and pink, fuschia and white. They were so elegant, tall and slender with a canopy of flowers. San Gabriel Valley, Ca.

[@fannieallen6005]

I have always loved crepe myrtle. That, roses, and hydrangeas are my favorites. Thanks.

[@jerrirussell7146]

I live in Alabama and we have some of the most gorgeous crepe myrtles and I'm glad that you mentioned about the pruning of the tree some people butcher them and it makes them look ugly letting them grow naturally they are so beautiful

[@fishmut]

My yard here in NSW Australia I have 6 crepe myrtles ,absolutely beautiful flowers in the summer . I also have beehives and the bees love the crepe myrtles they are very busy collecting all that lovely pollen and nectar so if anyone has bees plant some of these they flower for a long time over summer and keeps the bees happy.

[@BeeKaye]

Thanks Debbie, love your videos! I’m living my dream life vicariously through you.

[@mapndo2337]

Thanx Debbie....for those of us who live in regions far too warm....Crape Myrtles are our Lilacs. 😍

[@davidgregory9650]

We just got five bare root Crape Myrtles this weekend. Potted them and put them in our green house for at least two seasons until they get fully established. We live in the Pacific Northwest near the Columbia River. Lots of full sun too.

[@vernonmckinley9583]

Thank you for inspiring me to add more plants to my yard in Charleston, SC! .....Crepe Myrtles are pretty prominent here.

[@rita_fuko]

another gorgeous plant I don't have place for but I still enjoy the pictures :)

[@leticiavallejo7914]

You can grow a crape myrtle in a pot. It won't grow very big, but I have 3 that popped up in one of my pots and they are about 3 ft tall this spring 2021 and will probably keep growing a bit more.

[@rita_fuko]

@@leticiavallejo7914 not a bad idea maybe I'll give it a go if I see one in the shops

[@loriledner6528]

I love your videos. Thank you !!!🌳

[@bettykirk6670]

Beautiful presentation and charming voice, too. I loved this video and look forward to watching many more I would appreciate it if you would do a video on the care of skull cap plants. Blessings to you always. 🙏🏼💫❤⚘🌷🌳

[@juliannaburgess9177]

They are Beautiful ❤️

[@pamholt4490]

I have a lovely crape myrtle which has propagated a baby. I need to move the baby to a sunny spot. I'm looking forward to watching it develop. Thanks for your informative videos.

[@marysmith9934]

I'm in Georgia, have 4 Crape Myrtles that are just starting to push out tiny leaf buds. Last week we had 4 nights of killing frost that killed all the buds. New buds are popping out so they are o.k. They are rugged, mine are in full sun and are wonderful. Down here they call it Myrtle Murder when people cut them way back. :-)

[@anitahadley2871]

I’m in GA too and just noticed mine got nipped as well.

[@marysmith9934]

@@anitahadley2871 All new leaves are coming out rapidly. Now, we have to hope we don't get a tornado! Life in the South.

[@rosesmith6208]

I LOVE CRAPEMYRTLE!!!!! I live in ohio zone 5/6 on border, they grow sometimes then the cold pushes them back and they start over fromthe ground, for a few years I had a lavender which did well for three years and was becoming quite a big shrub/tree by my garage and very beautiful. then we had the severe winter that was so cold it felt like canada. it nearly killed my new dawn rose which is hardy to zone 4. that cold killed all my butterfly bushes which were just so cold hardy here. it ws the coldest I have ever seen in ohio, my area. when we went to the outer banks in oct last year there were still some crapes blooming, there were a bunch some blooming so not so much by the mcdonalds we ate at and I couldnt help but take pictures of it especially that beautiful bark. so I havealot of pictures. when I was a teen and went to nc to visit my sister it was october or late sept, cant remembe and I seen the crapes and I said diane, what are those!!! and she told me crapemyrtles, wanted them every since I seen them.

[@smoothsailingmp]

We have a crepe myrtle that is about 4 years old I've had it in a pot in front of the house and I keep the back pretty clipped so that it doesn't go against the window or anything in the pot and it's a little bit more than 6 ft tall so I only have to clip it a very little bit under the eaves there it's in a huge big pot so it does beautifully the flowers are a fuchsia red and red pink we really love it it's gorgeous thank you for showing these new ones and I really look forward to possibly putting a taller one in the yard in the ground out away from the house so we can enjoy that also thank you

[@roblamont8756]

I can’t wait for the hosta video I just divided a bunch I found growing unattended in a neighbors yard .

[@catharmony2220]

The perfect flowers for beauty

[@cactushound]

I live in Lake Placid, Florida (Highlands County) and the Crepe Myrtles do very here in full sun and the deep sand of the Lake Wales Ridge.

[@sonyasanders3605]

I have 2 Crape Myrtles that are 15 to 20 feet tall. They are wonderful.. No problems at all?never need attention. I am in zone 8 Houston Tex. They even survived our low of 13 during our unusual winter storm this year. Highly suggest getting some. .

[@cyberninja76a]

I hve 2 white flowered crepes in half shade which is super tall the other in full morning &afternoon sun it struggled for almost 5 yrs but this year the canopy is larger than the shaded one but not as tall. We did gave to water it much much more but it fought it's way through they are both so darn pretty. I live in San Antonio tx.

[@Cenepk101]

I grow fabulous crepe myrtles by planting them. ( southerner ) Gorgeous Bark in winter.

[@kathsage5]

Another hybrid resistant to powdery mildew, and has a lovely weeping habit, is the Acoma crape myrtle. It is semi dwarf, bright white and goes thru two sets of bloom. Here in NJ I have one that is full southern exposure and so amazing.

[@Ash-xx5zd]

I always enjoy your videos! If its possible, before making any major changes could we see a garden tour? That way we have standard from the end of the season! Would be awesome.

[@earthgirl7267]

I have a lovely crape myrtle shrub that's about 8ft tall. I live in zone 7 in Maryland, and it blooms late summer early fall. 🌳💚

[@cefrench7106]

I have a Zuni in my backyard, and waiting for a Pecos to ship to me for my front yard. They are great in my cottage style garden. I live in southern Oregon, very temperate, lots of sun.

[@katherine2777]

So. Calif.....100+ in summer..crepes do great here. End of Nov I cut way back a bush form...had sticky stuff on it..its already coming back with leaves

[@valeriedevereux5912]

I will be visiting your nursery when I return to Washington. Hopefully in May.

[@laurasuitter2442]

I have 3 of Tonto. They’re shrub sized right now. Been in the ground 2 years.

[@lincasteel-butler531]

Wow didn't know that Crape Myrtle would do well in PNW. Portland will try it.

[@lukeo.rielly9896]

Informative video, thanks! It is my goal to grow a crepe myrtle here in western CT, zone 6. Moved here a year ago and haven't seen any. I have heard that crepe myrtles with American Indian names do best in cooler zones. Just purchased a Natchez and will see how it does.

[@onetwocue]

I tried them in Seattle, (I'm originally from the Philly area where they thrive in the heat) I always try to grow what I'm used to. I never had luck with them. I wanted them for the fall foliage. I just ended up using stewartia which is fabulous.

[@rcrinsea]

Me, too. I live in Seattle and bought mine from Swanson’s Nursery. Not one bloom since I brought it home.

[@cacticollector6542]

I wonder if I put one in a big pot if that would keep it smaller. I have them in my new town and I have fallen in love with them. I live in a mobile park and I’m not allowed to plant any trees.

[@LauraEllen999]

Great video, thanks!

[@alejandra49]

These are so beautiful. I live in NC and they are everywhere. But I'd really like a few for when we buy a house. How long can they stay in the pots?

[@joannelicsko1073]

Your videos are so helpful. I am on Vancouver Island zone 8. I am hoping you would do a video on what can live on a sunny bed between a lawn and endless fir trees. The trees suck all the moisture and the roots don't leave much room for much other than weeds. Euphorbia 'wulfenii' grows there without much help from me, but what else?

[@longfootbuddy]

ive got a few black diamond crape myrtles here in missouri.. beutiful black leaves, two of them have tons of bright red flowers, one has purple.. got a little concerned the second year, when all the previous years growth died back, new shoots came out and grew about 6 feet tall, so i figured well, not the trees i was hoping for, but a nice fountain look i guess.. well this year being the third year, two of them actually kept most of their previous growth, so maybe ill get the trees i wanted after all.. the third one is just a shrimp again however.. hopefully as they get girth to them over time, they can survive the winters better.. thought the late frost this year finished them all off, killed the buds, but i left them on them thankfully, and just tried not to look at them, suprised later to see the dead buds werent actually fully dead, and kept pushing out fresh buds from the dead buds.. pretty strange

[@myrnarenoud3056]

I live in zone 5/6. Crape Myrtles cannot handle our freezing winters. But ....I have always grown them and enjoyed them each summer. Mine die back and look as though they aren’t coming back in the spring. But... they do come back up from the ground and bloom profusely for me. They just never get very tall as they die back completely.

[@rosesmith6208]

same here mine seem to do better if I take the energy and time to cover the tree half way up from the ground with dirt. build a fence around it with burlap and add the dirt. too much work so I dont do it anymore. my one I just got last year I put it by my little gem magnolia and built a small greenhouse around it, came through the winter in fine shape will be doing that until I cannot cover the whole trees anymore and just build as high as I can go. once i was at someones back yard not to far from me and he had a figleaf tree that was about 20 feet tall and it was november and he put what looked like greenhouse plastic all over it you could see th eleaves beneath the plastic. my guess this is a yearly thing to get 20 foot tall.

[@FromMyHeartToYoursMJ]

Remarkable❤

[@judymckerrow6720]

They are beautiful aren’t they? I’m going to try growing one in my zone 6a garden. I’m going to make sure that I heavily mulch it during he winter. I can’t wait!💚🙃

[@rosesmith6208]

protect the tops they cant stand cold below -5 for more than a few hours. I live in ohio zone 5/6 and they still die back sometimes in the winter.

[@judymckerrow6720]

@@rosesmith6208 good idea, Thank you

[@michaelpickens1226]

Enjoyed!

[@dianearnold1604]

I had three huge pine trees cut down now I left two probably 10 feet apart, my question is can I plant a couple of hydrangea close to pine trees , I now have a huge flower bed to fill in which most is in sun except where the pine trees are which is in shade. Another question is in the sun flower bed what type of backdrop shrub or flowers to plant . Thanks for your help, I have used your idea for the stump project and love it. I also planted 2 crept mrytles in the part where the sun is

[@lisamiller7143]

I just got one, I am in Illinois, going to try it, omg

[@tiaturpen6508]

My backyard is a blank slate. I want to plant an arrangement of trees to create a shade area. I’m in 7b. What trees would you plant? I realize I’m trying to create something that takes decades to accomplish. I love the style of your videos. Thank you for all the info!

[@wt30001]

Do you think I could use crepe myrtles for pollarding? I love the look of pollarding.

[@SuperMan-xy8ui]

Be aware that not all crepe myrtles have similar structure, I once bought two because they had red flowers but that species has a tall columnar form, not a tree form, and its bark isn’t prone to peeling so the bark on that one has lichens.

[@susiepingleton3614]

Mine are 30 feet tall!! Seems this year 4 are not leafing!! We had horrible winter with below zero temps! Hoping they will come to life!

[@terrimarshall9998]

I have a Muskogee crape myrtle tree it was planted last august my tree is nothing but sticks! I have fertilizers it with Carl pool 8-55-7 but it’s sticks I did prune it some but I’m getting nothing except at the bottom idk if that’s a bloom or not!

[@ytubechannel997]

My understanding is that crepe myrtles will survive in the pacific northwest, however, they will not bloom very well, because we simply do not have enough heat units. I have seen them in the nurseries, but passed over them for this reason.

[@rosesmith6208]

they like hot summer mine bloom (even tho they sometimes start nearly at ground level) and when it is hot they bloom sooner than if the summer was a bit cooler until the late summer heat. if you find the sunniest more protected from those northern winds it should bloom good. if it doesnt that is the part of gardening trial and error, well for me anyway.

[@ytubechannel997]

@@rosesmith6208 Thanks so much for the feedback. Good to know. Really would like to try one.

[@paulinecrispin121]

Hi, I live in Dorset, Southern England. I am hoping to be able to give crape myrtle a try in my garden. Not at all sure what zone the South of England is.

[@rosesmith6208]

find out because it can be dissappointing to have them get killed back in winter, I still have mine but they are small for the most part I bought a red rocket crape and this time it got protected over winter along with my magnolia because I built a mini green house around it. it survived very well.despite feburary being so cold that north wind cut right through you. we seldom get that cold more than a few days.

[@falconthree3815]

What about planning along a cinder block,wall ,how far from wall and any root problems with the smaller size myrtle

[@michaelromero1873]

If you cut off the seed pods after blooming, they will bloom again. We have a species in South Florida, Lagerstromia speciosa, with giant leaves and flowers. Crepe myrtles are everywhere in Florida.

[@carrahful]

I planted one last summer I believe all conditions are correct for a second growing season and to early yet for blooming season I am curious how long does it take for them to reach full growth in height as well as trunks and limbs. Not sure why I'm worried about the trunk and limbs I just feel like it's sitting dormant. Patients is most difficult hoping for color on my crepe myrtle mine was called fire rocket

[@cynthiacisneros1694]

We have a beautiful white one. It’s at least 30 feet tall. Huge canopy that seems to snow for us❣️I do nothing to it. No pruning, not watering nothing! It gorgeous 🥰 and I have often wondered about the ones in the neighborhood that get severely pruned. It that to keep them small?

[@dianearnold1604]

Again love watching all your videos question I'm planting portulaca on my deck just asking can you pair with other plants in same pot or just all in one pot. Help

[@GardenStylenw]

Portulaca is a succulent and can be combined with any sun loving plant that has the same water needs.

[@27507520]

Hi: My crape myrtle will have purple flowers and is 3 feet tall,,I have it in a pot and is not doing good 😌 looks dry and the leaves falling.I think is the potting mix that I bought . I live in S. Florida. What kind of potting mix or top soil brand can I buy from H. D. Lowes or Ace Hardware for this tree ? I don’t want to lose it.

[@sassysanders3997]

I had one in California which got 100 + degrees in the summer and it was beautiful. The praying mantis would lay eggs on it every year. Now I live near Salem, Oregon and hope to buy one this year. I am lookin for a Catawba, lilac color, and it grows up to 8-10', developed by Dr. Egolf in l967.

[@djchiesa3567]

Also I get you are not suppose to "top" or prune the trees but if you have a bush can you keep only one "trunk" and eliminate the others?

[@GardenStylenw]

Yes you can.

[@IFuzzyWuzzyDoodle]

Thank you for a lovely video. Just one question, , when should crepe myrtles be fertilized and what fertilizer should I use? Thanks.

[@GardenStylenw]

Slow release fertilizer in the Spring is all they need.

[@jewelzhang3745]

I’m in Texas and planted a young myrtle in march but it’s end of April now and most other myrtles in the neighborhood has started to leaf, but this little one is only growing leaves from the very bottom, should I not panic yet like you suggested?

[@k.johnson2722]

Natchez is my all time favorite

[@vmm684]

I have watched so many videos on this tree and haven’t seen anyone mention what time of the year should be pruned? I have 7 of them 2 purple and 5 deep pink . Purple ones are over 10ft now and pink some 8-10ft some 6-7ft ( they look like baby trees in thickness) we are new to the south and I can’t find proper demonstration and proper time to prune as some look like they don’t have nice round shape but shrub like . What should I do and when can I prune ? They all have the blooms now . Thank you 🙏

[@GardenStylenw]

You can trim them right after they bloom. Usually in the fall. 😀

[@marifelhewitt5249]

after the flower do I have to leave it alone until spring and trim it off

[@GardenStylenw]

Yes

[@Kay-qt2id]

Really hardy once established, here in Melbourne Australia it gets days of 35-40 in summer and it just keeps going without a leaf drop but I did loose some young plants because of initial lack of water

[@ellenkropp-rogers4808]

Can Crape Myrtles be planted in a large pot for a large deck?

[@stephanieblume5448]

Have you seen PW's Temple of Bloom (Seven-Son Flower)? Grows 10' and looks much like Crepe Myrtle. I planted one in the Fall of 2019. It is gorgeous and once the white flowers drop, the red bracts look like flowers still. I'm in zone 6, SW Ohio.

[@monstersong7433]

Thank you so much for posting this. I hadn't heard of this tree, it's perfect for my new hummingbird corner! I ordered it, will return the crape myrtle I was about to use. For those reading this, Temple of Bloom is a new variety of Seven Sons Flower. It is smaller and the bracts are brighter and redder.

[@stephanieblume5448]

I just realized I spelled Crape wrong. 😆🌿🤦🏻‍♀️

[@dianearnold1604]

How do you care for variegated lacecap hydrangeas, I have one next to my house don't know how to care for it thanks

[@cecedubois5147]

I had a beautiful multi-stem Crepe Myrtle ... must have been 20 feet tall. The bark looks somewhat like a birch.

[@Brandon-md8iw]

They grow well in zone 11, they also repeat bloom in zone 11

[@deearguelles7290]

What time of the yr or season do you recommend to plant a myrtle?

[@GardenStylenw]

In April

[@fondawebb4527]

My crepe myrtle is about 25 feet tall I guess that means it loves where its been placed thanks to the previous owner. We need to start a campaign for these suburban landscapers. They seem to know nothing about pruning trees. It's painful to drive through my neighbor to see the damage done.

[@Brian-ti6tt]

PlantAmnesty in Seattle is an org with exactly that mission, to educate landscapers about proper pruning.

[@Cenepk101]

I love Natchez white

[@mohittyagi4899]

Granny I put some crape myrtles seeds on 1 July 2024 in how many days it will give first leaf 🐼🥹I m Indian panda wish my trees cuty cuty granny

[@anitahadley2871]

Do you need to clip off the old blooms or do you just leave them?

[@GardenStylenw]

Just leave them.

[@QueenBee-xd1xk]

I noticed I get more blooms if I deadhead mine

[@darlenethompson6738]

Do you trim off old spent blooms for a secondary yearly bloom.

[@GardenStylenw]

No need.

[@LG-pj4qh]

I do and always have a beautiful, full second bloom.

[@QueenBee-xd1xk]

I do and I get a second bloom

[@JJ-gt2po]

Where are you? I know you’re nursery is on fire with people but we miss you!

[@HomeIdeasYT]

So nice :)

[@rcrinsea]

I have a crepe myrtle I bought a few years ago. At the nursery, it had blooms when I bought it in the month of September, but not a single bloom since. I live in Seattle and it gets part sun. All it produces are foliage. I keep it watered but don't overwater. Very disappointing.

[@GardenStylenw]

Transplant it into a full sun area.

[@rcrinsea]

@@GardenStylenw - Thanks for the tip. I love your channel, BTW. I am subscribed and find your content so nicely presented.

[@onesunnyday5699]

The hummingbird

[@djchiesa3567]

You failed to say how far from a fence the crape myrtle needs to be. Also how far apart between crape myrtle trees and crape myrtle bushes do you plant them? How close to a fence (steel pipe) can I put the crape myrtles??

[@GardenStylenw]

Depends on the size and variety. Read your tags and they will tell you.

[@zeroturn7091]

Recommendations are six feet from property line. Depending on the height of the tree it’s relative to risk tolerance. My neighborhood seems to like three feet.

[@djchiesa3567]

@@zeroturn7091 thank you.

[@SanghaGarden]

good

[@frankmorenojr6147]

😅tonto in english it translates to "stupid"...Love these trees and I appreciate your video.

[@markc1894]

❔how do I get rid of white flies on my myrtles they’re sucking the life out of them

[@Cenepk101]

Crepes should be pruned in first 5 years to establish branching.

[@Cenepk101]

I saw - as a Georgian, who’d grown up with Crepe Murder - New Orleans Crepe Myrtles that were ENORMOUS- Learned how to ( not prune ) as the Georgians did. Was so funny - I asked : What is THAT tree - They answered: Crepe Myrtle.... I was so pissed off in Ga the Landscapers were training everyone to commit : CREPE MURDER

[@fortablet2933]

Moved to GA and loved the trees. I refused to butcher them. I was thrilled I made the right choice lol

[@margaritaarreola9755]

♥️

[@mmoarchives2542]

the more humid it is, the more they flower, i wouldn't get them on west coast, the air is too thin for long term flowering, timid air will actually stunt their growth rate over time

[@gardeniabee]

Oh, so that’s the problem I am having in Zone 8 high desert- no humidity?

[@fromseedtobloommedia9340]

Being from Florida crepe myrtle’s are like weeds, and we prune them very, very hard although it’s probably unnecessary.

[@josephsellarslesacelier2742]

we can t do it here in oport arange fl caus of th poor unfertile myakka soil

[@juliewilson488]

I live in zone 5 Upstate please tell me mulch,mulch,mulch

[@changingtheworldonelifeatt2949]

PLEASE don’t commit Crepe MURDER by whacking off these beautiful trees/shrubs. If your yard is too small, buy a dwarf variety.

[@deb5710]

Thou shalt NOT prune the crepe myrtle.