BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Gardening Crepe Myrtle Pruning Mishap

Late last fall, I believe in October, DH decided to prune the leggy crepe myrtles from about twelve feet in height back to five feet tall. He did it without checking to see if that was going to kill the bush. I'm wondering if there's a chance in this world that they will come back or if I should just start shopping for replacements as soon as they show up in the garden centers. We have had some 20 degree lows this winter, so what would your guess be? Will they come back or not?

Crepe Myrtles are very durable. It should come back fine in the spring. I'm by no means a gardening expert, but I cut back my crepe myrtle every year (need to do it soon for this year!) and it comes back even fuller and healthier and bigger every year. I'm in Texas, and last year we got so much spring rain the myrtle got HUGE!

Cindy

They were seven years old so the roots should be well established if that makes a difference. This area has been suffering from slightly less than average rainfall, so maybe that will turn around this year and save these crepe myrtles!

Hi msbaby,
Your myrtles should be just fine. Severe prune back doesn't hurt them at all!

They say that severe pruning damages the shape of the trees. I have heard it refered to as "Crape Murder" It apparently is not nescessary. I always just trim the small spindly limbs off and leave the rest alone.

I wanted to say also that if you do prune hard, they always come back, especially old trees that have been there awhile.

Tea is right..severe pruning does ruin the shape of the trees, but they will come back and once they do they can be reshaped-patience is all that's necessary.