How to Plant a Crape Myrtle (Planting Root Bound Trees)

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This video is a detailed description of how to plant a Crape Myrtle. I show how to properly plant a Crape Myrtle in clay soil as well as sandy soil. It is best to cut off the flowers after planting to reduce water use. Crape Myrtles are easy low maintenance plants if planted properly. Crape Myrtles tend to be very root bound in the container.
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[@terrystevens8890]

Great ‘how to’ video. Thanks for taking the time to film it.

[@jimscott4539]

This guy makes a simple planting look like a NASA shuttle launch!

[@christinad2896]

Thank you for a video filled with details on how to plant the crape myrtle

[@katiedotson704]

I just put two Black Diamond Crapes and did it differently. This is s new bed in red clay that I started of with digging up the top 8+ inches with the tractor front in loader. I then added a few bucket loads of seasoned compost provided by those two ungrateful horses at no extra charge. To that I added a couple of hundred pounds of sand. Again using the bucket on the front end loader, I would pick up ca load of clay compost and sand then pour the load out as easy as my skills would allow, to mix the everything up evenly. Sort of. This gave me about 10” of loose top soil to work with. I most likely put my Myrtles a couple of inches too deep. Before putting the plant in it’s new home, I held it over the whole and methodically beat the root ball with my hand til most of the bottom roots were free of soil. The soil that had turned loose was now in the bottom of the hole. I then buried my new bushes, said “ Oh hell, Mary” 2 or 3 times and hoped for the best. That was three days ago and nothing is looking unhappy yet. Per the tracks, the deer have come by to check for edibles. I guess they will have to wait for the roses to bloom.

[@jacindralumbardton4691]

Thank you for sharing ! Very well explained step by step. This was very helpful to me because I learned some things about the Crape Myrtle.

[@kellen.myrights1085]

Just the information I needed without the fluff. Perfect. Thank you for being here

[@sea-eracutlass1775]

I am curious as to what your crape myrtle looks like now?

[@koolass129]

It probably died

[@valhallamcgaughey3720]

He no longer lives at that house, so I’m not sure he’d be able to go there and film an update.

[@pravoslavn]

Excellent piece or work... in the structure and scope of the presentation, in the narration, and in the video. I shall be looking for more of your tutorials. Thanks !

[@ThanhHW]

Thank you, thank you for this! We're about to plant a Muskogee Crepe Myrtle, and are so happy to have found your channel - so many great and informative videos, it's a wonder I haven't come across your channel until now (?!) but, the timing could not have been better for us - that you're a Raleigh native is just icing on the cake for these two Wolfpackers now living north of Atlanta!

[@WillertMorris]

Thank you. Very informative. It was beneficial to hear you say crape myrtles make poor container plants. I have three that I must plant in the ground. I will also follow your trim and water routine. Cheers!

[@Shananana99]

Very informative. I am about to plant my new crape and would not have known to do a lot of this. Thank you

[@erwinbrubacker7488]

Very well detailed instructions, anybody ought to be able to grow crapemyrtle ! 👍

[@andrewp.619]

I love crape myrtles! Just last week I saw some blooms come off of something that has been growing like crazy and I pulled back all the wild violet and ivy and it was a beautiful little bush crape myrtle! I cleaned all that junk around it and it now gets the morning sun and afternoon shade. I'm so glad I pulled all that junk back off of it. I've got a few others that were ravaged by powdery mildew, but I think this one that is East facing will do beautifully there in the front of my home. Thanks for the tips, Jim!

[@kimmyj1512]

This is my very fave plant! My 3 Sioux crape myrtles I got last year were gorgeous, they flowered their 1st summer 2 months after planting tiny sticks. But then they seemed to die after the Oct freeze zone 6b 😭. ... But last week I saw signs of life!!😁 So happy, I could cry. I'm getting more to celebrate 🎉

[@lilliandurant9231]

Your video was extremely helpful for me when I planted the crape mrrytle bushes ladt. Because of your video I am now planting 3 tress because my bushes are beautiful! Thank you

[@JimPutnam]

Awesome. Thanks for watching.

[@alexandriamihalcik9202]

Awesome video! Thank you for sharing some great info!!!

[@Alexz_Archivz]

Compared to my young Crape tree, your foliage look gorgeous! Green and shiny!

[@JimPutnam]

+MrAlex3132003 It will get there. Thanks for watching

[@mikeysantiago]

Thanks so much! Really helped me a lot. God bless you!🤩🙏🏽❤️

[@Tina06019]

Mr. Putnam, I was just as aggressive in breaking up the pot-bound roots of an Autumn Twist Azalea which I had purchased about a month later than would have been ideal. I was worried that I had been too aggressive, but it appears to be doing well. Watching this video has reassured me that you really can cut right into a jam-packed pot bound root ball and get good results.

[@KnowledgeSharingjkb]

Thanks for sharing this. I will try today.

[@russellandtonitidwell1252]

Thanks for such great information.

[@victoriawhitehead1802]

Thank you, this was wonderful!

[@RichardGilbert2727]

Jim, great video. I think you got the height just right. Until recently, I'd have been shocked at your mauling the root ball. I've since studied Gilman's and others' work at University of Florida and Gilman's excellent An Illustrated Guide to Pruning. Now . . . I'd have sawed off 1" all around the sides of the root ball and maybe 2" on the bottom!

[@user-xm3gf4bl9x]

Sir You giving yourself a lot of work those bushes in Jamaica grow anywhere

[@ponsaravanan]

Very nice video. Quite useful

[@cathyplantlover2862]

Great video thanks.

[@miller4hats]

Great tips!

[@danlewis1871]

Very helpful thank you

[@itsjustjoe3790]

Thank you for the info

[@claudiacossio1]

Thank you so much!

[@matthewfrakes7804]

Excellent....

[@LisaCunninghamLieveEnterprises]

Very helpful. I did learn some tips from you. I am about ready to plant a beautiful Black Diamond Crimson Red in my front yard so I will be following your tips. Thanks much!

[@crystaltaylor2991]

Lisa Cunningham I am about to plant my new Black Diamond Crimson too .. any tips? How’s yours doing?

[@LisaCunninghamLieveEnterprises]

@@crystaltaylor2991 HI! Actually it is doing well. This is the third year for its spring awakening. It is a slow growing tree. I thought it would have been a little larger this year, but maybe by this summer it will perk up and maybe I might get some blooms. I am giving it the food it needs and cannot wait to see it get to the size I want and the pretty blooms it will have. :)

[@nishelbyking669]

Hi, we’re you able to get any blooms? I am planting one now.

[@nishelbyking669]

@@crystaltaylor2991 Hi, I am planting one now. How is yours doing?

[@LisaCunninghamLieveEnterprises]

@@nishelbyking669 we did this past spring. Small, but yes!

[@smnch5445]

Is an admin replying to questions here, or does Jim still reply? 😢 I want to know how far to plant a semi-dwarf from foundation and side of home, please?! Thank you ! Love this channel !

[@tyranthunter2638]

Great video like how you showed the planting process. I know for me I would just dig a hole stick the plant in and bury. Now with some patience the plant will be much happier for many years.

[@kathyalexander1321]

my black diamond crepe myrtles are only blooming at the bottom and the rest looks dead. Do I need to prune it down?

[@nishelbyking669]

@@kathyalexander1321 hi, same here. What did you end up doing to promote bloom?

[@lizmumford901]

very informative

[@JimPutnam]

Glad to help. Thanks for watching.

[@mariabarreto4417]

Loved

[@timbosinfo]

Good ol red clay. I have it too. I always need to amend.

[@57colliegirl]

That soil looks hard to work with! :-(

[@jennifergrz8059]

Informative. Wish I had come across this video before I planted my Berry Dazzle. Anyhow, after a few years of doing well, it looked like a dead shrub in the ground this Spring. So I transplanted it in a better spot that gets much more sunlight. However, I covered the top with soil, OOPS, but I think it's going to make it as I noticed live shoots at the base of each trunk and even a shoot off a branch. Today I picked up a Pocomoke. Can this be divided? In the 3 gallon pot, it looks like there are 3 shrubs.

[@georgcorfu]

Thank you for the lovely video,I wonder if it needs the same pruning if I plant it in spring

[@JimPutnam]

+georgcorfu It wouldn't be necessary. In the summer it is a good idea though

[@werquantum]

Love the detail. Question: Recommended spacing for planting Rhapsody in Pink, if I want to ultimately limit them to 8 feet high (more of a hedge/screen)?

[@lucassmith3790]

Hello! Thanks for your informational video! I really appreciate it. I am wondering if the crape myrtle you planted in the video is going to be a shrub or a tree? I thought I read not to prune the tops or ends of the branches if you want a tree. Please advise. Thanks!

[@werquantum]

Thanks for the detail. I live in Florida (sandy soil) and have an irrigation system worth drip. I just planted a 3-foot rhapsody in pink crape myrtle tree that is in bloom in all-day sun. Question: should I clip off the blooms?

[@myback4t]

Great video. Very helpful! Could you please tell me what that metal piece is called that you are using to block your basement opening behind you? I need to block water from running into an opening like that on my house. Thanks!

[@57colliegirl]

Is it safe to dig up and transplant a dwarf weeping crepe myrtle that has been in the ground 3 years in the Spring? If not, when? I believe it has too much other vegetation nearby on a fence to get adequate air circulation... in hindsight. I learn so much from your videos! Thanks.

[@frenchinar479]

I realized I planted my natchez crepe myrtle wrong after watching this video. I didn't leave enough root showing. It doesn't have a trunk showing. Can I fix it so it will get taller?

[@charleslink1118]

Looks good. One comment though. Having farmed and owned nurseries in Hawaii and Panama sometimes in clay, muddy soil we usually added a few small rocks to the hole before dropping a tree in. It helps with drainage.

[@troyhenry3267]

Jim, I live in northeast Atlanta. Whereabouts are you? Do you know if nurseries are still Cultivating Nandina Domestica aka. Heavenly Bamboo? The variety that grows out dark red berries? I have a hard time finding this variety, my all time favorite.

[@jewelzhang3745]

I have a newly planted myrtle, the flower buds are presented beautifully, but it’s started to curl a little bit (soft and dropping on the tips). Am I overwatering or it’s lack of watering? Thank you so much!

[@larrytanner370]

Question, I had someone dig up some fresh young crape myrtle bushes and give me. I just replanted them,any advice on making sure they start back growing well.

[@nishelbyking669]

Hi, I just ordered a 30 inch myrtle tree in January. I’m not sure, based on your video, when you should cut the top of the tree or why you are cutting the top of the tree and should I do that for any size newly planted Mrytle? Thank you for responding and any other tips for planting in January in Florida where we don’t really have winter cold. Also can I do peat moss and composte?

[@muhammadtalhaahmed631]

Very beautiful I m buy 3 colours 6plants how do much gape need for make sure one line

[@Annabee399]

Great tutorial. And thanks for the tips. However, I purchased a mature Dynamite Crape Myrtle tree, which grows 15-20 feet. Well, I prefer a semi-dwarf or dwarf. So is it okay to often prune the tree to the semi-dwarf height of 8 -10 feet?

[@littleworld8157]

I have noticed a volunteer Crape myrtle under my front window. It’s beautiful and because it’s small I haven’t decided what to do with it yet. Should I remove it?! Should I keep it and prune it every year?!

[@bethcox4482]

This year my crepe myrtle is leafing our from the base of the plant . Should I trim all of this growth

[@christyasay764]

This was great info but its the 12th of Nov. in south Orange County, in So. CA. Is there any thing I need to do differently planting this time of year? Thank you! Christy

[@patriciadorman382]

I just planted a Natchez in an open space and the leaves are turning brown and yellow. It’s a rather mature tree that was in a container. It has buds but not yet bloomed. I also planted it about 2 inches above the soil. I put garden soil around it. Should I cut back if there are only buds and not blooms? It’s hard to know if I water too much or too little.

[@rameshkaranam]

I have one crape myrtle with white blooms just a 2ft away from foundation and wall, planted by the builder 4 years ago. Have to cut branches sometimes to avoid scrubbing with downspouts. Do you think transplanting the tree a 10 feet away will help sustain instead of cutting it down. Zone: 7B In Raleigh, NC. Tree location West facing

[@mariasimon3328]

I had a dwarf crepe Myrtle that was uprooted with Hurricane Ida. I have 3 shoots that are growing on the side of the initial spot. I’d like to relocate one and place it In the same spot as the original tree. Could you guide me. I truly have no idea how to do this. When would be a good time? And how deep and wide do I dig out to remove it. Also I have narcissus plants all around the original site of the crepe Myrtle, so the new shoot is in the narcissus circle.

[@kirstenhalstengard3693]

So I have a 5ft myrtle and I'm transplanting same rules apply correct as you did

[@rameshkaranam]

I have one crape myrtle with white blooms just a 2ft away from foundation and wall, planted by the builder 4 years ago. Have to cut branches sometimes to avoid scrubbing with downspouts. Do you think transplanting the tree a 10 feet away will help sustain instead of cutting it down?

[@She_is_beauti]

Do you have an update video on this trees growth?

[@robindickey4540]

my leafs have powdery mold on top how do I treat that? received the plants as sticks with little roots in the mail, I have them in buckets and they have grown from nothing to 2 1/2 to 3 feet and they are in the house, have not planted them outside yet. what do you suggest ?

[@cathyplantlover2862]

I almost bought a crepe myrtle but that was before, I saw this video.

[@Dandy279]

Great instructions! Do you have a video on how to trim them?

[@JimPutnam]

I'm going to do one this winter when it is time. Thanks for watching.

[@KatrinaTrys]

HortTube with Jim Putnam: Have you had the chance to trim this beautiful one? Thank you Jim..

[@bbulliard]

If u want to kill a crepe myrtle, do this. Dig a shallow hole in clay. Even though the hole is wide, the water from rain will pool and cause root rot. Leaves will wilt and if it doesn’t dye will take 4+ weeks to recover once you deepen your hole and fill bottom of hole w good soil

[@amberhebert6404]

Hello, I transplanted three Natchez crepe myrtles in October. Two of them are growing green leaves but one is not. Do you know if there’s anything I can do or is it dead?

[@StephanieS-ti6kq]

This video was posted 5 years ago, would love to see what this crape myrtle looks like now! Would it be okay to mix manure with gardening soil to fill whole once the tree is placed in the hole? Or should I just use the soil that was removed to make the hole? Also should the shrub be cut back 20% if it is not flowering yet?

[@valhallamcgaughey3720]

He moved to a new house, so he may not be able to film updates of this crape myrtle. I would love it if he could, though!

[@jaunitamowery2773]

The area I want to plant my crape myrtle is to wet can I put rocks in the bottom of the hole?

[@roseadinolfi8658]

Hello great video! Are you concerned that the roots will spread out or are you concerned about the height that this tree can grow??

[@tpassmedia]

That's what I was wondering. It's "dwarf" but looks like it can still get to 15 feet.

[@ringodjango849]

to the uploader, my question is, on how to plant a seed crape myrtle, i plant several times but it did not grow, it is very seldom to hear that a seed of crape myrtle when planted it grow, even our neighborhood attempted to plant crape myrtle but failed. some say soak it in boil water for a second so that the skin of the seed will open as it is hardskin to open in its natural way, tnks

[@JimPutnam]

+ringo django They germinate easily in the spring. Save the seed in a cool dry place for the winter. It is also easy to root them from cuttings

[@ringodjango849]

our method in planting the seed, we just put the seed in the open ground so sunlight directly hit the seed until it turn dry, and after seeing it so dried, we just plant it easily on the pot and that is it and wait for days, but we failed. we dont know what the first step having a falling seed on the ground. are there techniques on how to proceed from a falling crape myrtle? tnks

[@davidevans2810]

If your soil is heavy, you shouldn't step on to settle it, just let the water settle it instead. If it is loose stuff like in the video, some compression is a good thing.

[@xocream]

Today we planted a crape myrtle (black diamonds best red) on the west side of our home using this video as a reference. Before watching all the way through i was concerned that we were planting it too close to the house. I was wondering if you could do an updated video to share what it looks like now? Thanks!

[@nishelbyking669]

Hi, I just purchased a black diamond as well. Do you have any tips and how is your mrytle doing?

[@xocream]

@@nishelbyking669 Hello!! Our myrtle had dropped all of its leaves when it started to get colder (I live in area 7b) and now I am just hoping it comes back in the spring!!

[@nishelbyking669]

@@xocream I just received mine and it has no leaves at all. I guess it’s dormant but I’m going to plant anyway and see how it goes.

[@57colliegirl]

@@xocream I am in NE Oklahoma. I am concerned about my two weeping crepe myrtles too. A week of zero to 20 degrees was harsh! They don't scratch green. Waiting another month hoping for buds to form.

[@xocream]

@@57colliegirl I checked my black diamond crepe myrtle today and it looks like she survived the winter and is trying to put off new growth! Its barely 3 feet tall. Can't wait to watch it grow. Please let me know how your myrtle does!

[@avishah2343]

Can you plant this in the fall?

[@aeastman59]

dont they grow to be 20ft high and wide? did you cut it down 20% to keep it short, will you prune it down 20% every summer to keep it from getting huge in that spot? why did you put pine bark chips into the hole? thanks!

[@LisaCunninghamLieveEnterprises]

I do have a question. Do you have a link on actually how to prone correctly a myrtle back? I want my two in the back yard to produce more flowers and shape it to grow full.

[@TheDeanna2003]

prune to shape in January or February. Give plant food in March.

[@mostaanroya]

What else could I use instead of pine bark to improve drainage? What about lava rocks

[@57colliegirl]

Compost the soil several times a year around the plants.

[@mgran358]

How do you address powdery mildew if your crepe myrtle does get it?

[@brookssebright8934]

I've been looking high and low for information on this and haven't gotten an answer. I live in the south so weather is not the issue but I want to plant some black diamond crepe myrtle's in containers to place on my deck. As you know these were plants that usually get 10-12ft but I will be opting for them to be shrubs any were from 3-6, as yet to be determined. So my question is, what size pot should I get? Also at what time, if any, do I need to worry about roots over crowding a plants that will be pruned to this height regularly? And if that is to be considered then how do I maintain that issue. Thanks

[@nishelbyking669]

Hi, how are yours doing? Did you decide to leave in containers?

[@johnmcfarland4025]

Jim, I have a 30 year old Pin Oak that the leaves are turning brown, it has done this for 4 or 5 years in August the leaves turn, also has some deadwood limbs that I’m taking off. Is there anything that I could do to prevent this?

[@57colliegirl]

Prune dead wood in Jan.or Feb.?

[@blaschito1]

Hello would you know if the crepe myrtles attracts pollinators? Also would it be best to plant it in the garden in winter time? Thanks!

[@peteregeto8948]

yes they do attract pollinators, they actually LOVE cms. If the plant is potted, you can plant it anytime during the year as long as the soil is not frozen.

[@missdeeva2266]

Does that 20% rule apply to small trees you plant too?

[@brokenbutterfly3178]

They say crepe myrtles make excellent container plants bit how big of a container do you need for crepe myrtles? Is it true that it all depends on the overall height you wish to create with your plants? Like for every 2 ft of height, add a foot height to your container.

[@JimPutnam]

I really don't think that crape myrtles make good container plants. They are real water hogs in containers. And the blooms are typically stunted some.

[@noel888]

Hi Jim, when i bought my home here in nyc about 30 yrs ago, it had a crepe myrtle and now its about 20 feet high and blooms every late July. I never fertilized it, but I don't know how and with what to use for such a size. Could you suggest anything, I do notice that although it blooms every year, but not as lush as the beginning of those yrs when i bought my home.

[@nishelbyking669]

Hi, did you ever figure out how to get a better bloom?

[@noel888]

@@nishelbyking669 No, sorry to say.

[@anthonychappell4746]

Is pine bark soil conditioner the same as pine bark nuggets or mulch?

[@JimPutnam]

It is just finely ground pine bark nuggets. Sometimes I will use mini nuggets if it is all I can find.

[@familyguy60111]

Hi Jim, I planted a crape red rocket myrtle and 3 days later it's starting to wilt and lost it's top flowers. I've been watering it every day because of the 85-90 weather. Is there anything I can do to get it back?

[@user-qr5bz2pq7v]

It's probably just experiencing shock from the transplant. It'll come back. Just give it time to settle in and I would back off watering it too much.

[@mendezfamily9073]

Hello! I just got three mystic magenta’s from Lowe’s and we were planning on keeping them potted since we’re looking to move in the next year. The plants are only 2 feet high. Would you recommend moving them into a larger pot to grow?

[@amykinder1458]

Yes because my crepe myrtle is now about 15 feet tall and when it was potted at the tree farm it’s was extremely root bound but are ur trees root bound

[@amykinder1458]

If they are that means they need bigger pots

[@valangstatolbert6775]

Thank you!!! So helpful!!

[@sharonk5949]

i planted a natchez which is about 3 foot and bushy, a week ago, should I trim off 20%? It seems to have tolerated the transplanting

[@nishelbyking669]

Hi, did you trim off? I didn’t fully understand the point of trimming during planting.

[@57colliegirl]

@@nishelbyking669 he took off the same amount of roots he said , so he balanced that with the pruning.

[@micahpop6656]

Nice video, but I need advice from anyone who can help me. I have successfully planted many Crepe Myrtles in my yard over the years, but last year my neighbor offered me a 10 ft high Crepe that he was having dug up. It had been planted there two years and even had a metal root ball support around it! Ugh. It was moved to my driveway by bulldozer where it sat for 6 months (in the fall/winter w ball covered) before I got in ground. Now no leaves at all but anywhere I scratch on the trunks is green so it's alive What to do? Is in full sun and not over-watered. Please help.

[@kimjackson8548]

I live in Kansas City, Mo. 64118. And my husband planted one of these, as of now 4.20.2024 it looks dead, brown branches. What happen 😢😢

[@GlueGunsRoses]

I'm in Dallas, Texas and I just bought a red rocket that I want to plant in my front yard and will have zero shade. Can I put it five feet away from the driveway or does it need more space?

[@JimPutnam]

The roots aren't bad at all on these. They are difficult to dig out, but the spreading roots are not super aggressive

[@GlueGunsRoses]

@@JimPutnam I actually ended up with a best red black diamond crape myrtle. This was my first tree or shrub to ever plant and I believe I planted it way too low. It's also in a dip in the yard so after it rains I end up scraping 2 inches of soil back but I'm afraid it is still too low. The tree did Bloom beautifully this year and I just measured it has grown almost a foot since I planted on father's day. Should I dig up and add soil below?.

[@GlueGunsRoses]

The tree is only a little over 3ft. This is my first year doing any Landscaping at all and I chose a crape myrtle because we have one the backyard that was fairly small when we bought the house 2 years ago. I never watered it or anything and it's grown 3 ft and didn't die. I'm just concerned now because I've read post in landscaping blogs about crepe myrtles not growing or stop blooming because of planted too low

[@nishelbyking669]

@@GlueGunsRoses Hi, we’re you able to get a better bloom? Did you have to move it?

[@GlueGunsRoses]

@@nishelbyking669 I planted a black diamond (ebony) tree and the original bark tree that same spring. Both are doing great. The black diamond one seems to be a lot slower in blooming and growth but I believe it only reaches a max of 9-12ft.

[@MsYamaye]

I've already planted my crepe myrtle to deep. What do i do now?

[@JimPutnam]

If it hasn't been planted long, it can be raised up. If it is well established, mulch it very lightly.

[@cathybrown7559]

The Japanese beetles eat all my Crepe Myrtle buds. Once I see the beetles I put a trap at the end of my driveway but they still eat them.

[@JimPutnam]

You may want to treat your lawn for the grubs at some point.

[@vgil1278]

They are terrible here too(MI.) so this year I got a big bag of milky spore powder and a filter mask. It's supposed to take a couple years if you do it right. Maybe some day my pussy willows won't look like lace, and maybe someday I will get to enjoy my roses.

[@berthapardave]

My crape myrtles are diying😢 they were very pretty for about 3 days now their leaves are changing to orange color , all the flowers fall off and it they look like sad trees im so sad o was really exited ti see them bloom😢 I don't know what else can I do?

[@nishelbyking669]

Oh wow. Did your tree ever recover? What did you do?

[@57colliegirl]

I had that happen last year. I thought it was burn from a slow release fertilizer. I now use organic brand by Espoma. Rabbits chewed these weeping crepe myrtles and we had zero temps for a week. May be dead? Too much stress. How are yours now?

[@berthapardave]

@@57colliegirl @NiShelby King I have 4 and 3 of them are starting to sprout thank God!! Im very happy I hope they can do. So much better this year !!🙌🙌🙌 I added compost and some liquid fertilizer to them and trimmed the weak steams 👍👍🙌

[@wendystewart5665]

Why are you leaving the top of the plant out of the soil ?

[@gabihuggins5042]

This made me laugh....I cannot get rid of Crape Myrtle! I have a big one that I want to cut down. Tons of suckers pop up all over my yard from the last one I removed...they never go away! Gasoline??

[@georgcorfu]

Gabi Huggins I love lagerstraemia,I want to plant one

[@LisaCunninghamLieveEnterprises]

So true. I have taken some of ours that pop up and get them to root and plant some where we have rental properties. :)

[@stevenmatteson6163]

I live in a 6a can I grow crape myrtle ?

[@tlcgma]

Steven Matteson I have a big one in my front yard and I'm in 6a.

[@stevenmatteson6163]

Thank you according to my zip code I'm in 6A but when I checked with the local Nursery they said we are 5

[@33piolin]

Should you plant the Crepe Myrtle so close to the house, because of the aggressive root system❓

[@missquinn861]

They’re not an invasive root though

[@drinny26]

What does it look like today?

[@drinny26]

I still want to know!

[@cmoreno12345]

Hehe. One flower got lucky.

[@kathrinaj6258]

Would be nice if you don't plant too close to your house. This prevents your subfloor and foundation getting enough ventilation.

[@smnch5445]

@Kathrina J How close is too close for a semi-dwarf?

[@Mike-hc5in]

Why trim it 20 % off top ?

[@vgil1278]

Mike- He said it was because he cut off so many roots. He doesn't want it to struggle and perhaps die.