When do crepe myrtle bloom in texas

Choose your crape myrtles based upon what their mature height will be. Never chop a taller variety you like the looks of to control the height! The shape of the plant is another consideration. Most crapes used in residential landscapes are upright or rounded. The last consideration is the natural disease resistance. With proper planting and care you can avoid most powdery mildew issues before they start; but very rainy weather or cloud cover for extended periods can encourage mildew growth.

Where you place your new crape myrtle makes a huge difference to the overall health, vigor, and beauty of your mature plant! Follow these tips for the best success:. Good spacing will provide excellent air circulation which will reduce mildew issues. Proper spacing will also give your crape myrtle room to grow to its full mature height and width.

Planting a crape myrtle is not any different than planting any other common tree or shrub in North Texas. In a prepared bed, plant it so that the soil line of the top of the root ball in the container is slightly above grade. In a pocket planting situation, dig a hole roughly twice the diameter of the root ball, amend the existing native soil with a mixture of compost and expanded shale, and plant the root ball slightly above grade.

We consulted with plant taxonomists at leading agricultural universities, the U. National Arboretum where massive research on the plant had been done , with noted authors and growers, also with historical literature.

Based on all that, we discovered that only the scientific name must be assigned precisely. The genus involved is Lagerstroemia. The first species to be brought into common cultivation in the United States was Lagerstroemia indica. Those are names that must be used intact. But beyond that, common names can be spelled in a multitude of ways. Buy only named and labeled crape myrtles. It is the only way you can be sure of what you are buying. Your first decision needs to be mature plant size.

Flower color is the next consideration, and, close behind, would be disease resistance. Container-grown plants come with all of their roots intact, so they will establish and grow most quickly. Balled-and-burlapped plants are often available in larger sizes for more dramatic landscaping appearance. Let your nursery employee suggest the best plants for your needs, or consult our list of varieties. Crape myrtles need full sun and average garden soils.

Avoid sites that get less than 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily, also those that have shallow, rocky soils. Tall crape myrtles can be used as patio and entryway trees, along drives and walks and as tall, deciduous, screening shrubs along property lines. Medium-sized types work well in front of taller evergreens, also as anchoring shrubs for free-standing perennial gardens.

Dwarf crape myrtles can be massed in beds almost as one would use taller perennials. Miniature, weeping crape myrtles are used in pots, hanging baskets and bed edgings.

There are crape myrtles for all uses, so long as the requirements for good soil and ample sun are addressed. However, be prepared to water your new plants by hand every couple of days to prevent their getting too dry.

Container-grown crape myrtles are traditionally produced in lightweight potting soils that do not retain water for very long at high temperatures. The leaves even offer great fall color. Of course, the biggest value the crape myrtle brings is its blooms. The showy flowers come in dense clusters of crinkled, crepe paper-like flowers in shades of red, white, pink or lavender.

The plant can vary in size from dwarf to large shrubs to trees and lives happiest in hot summer climates. In spring, you might be impatient for your crape myrtles to bloom and showcase their prize blossoms.

The bloom times of crape myrtles vary, depending on a number of factors. Some crape myrtles come into bloom with large clusters of flowers appearing on the tips of new branches in May, while other varieties wait until July or later. Blooms continue into fall. Frost-damaged trees will need extra care and attention. We offer conprehensive plant health care programs that help stressed trees get the nutrients they need and fight pests. Our staff of ISA Certified Arborists are available to assess your trees and see if they need immediate action, or if it is best to wait and see how they recover.

For questions about crape myrtles or any other tree, get in touch!