How to trim crepe myrtle.

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attedino Raleigh, NC(Zone 7a) Jul 21, 2015

My crepe myrtle has grown very fast and is unruly. Id love help on how to prune...thanks

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missingrosie Hillsborough, NC(Zone 7b) Jul 21, 2015

Crepe myrtle pruning step by step by steve bender
Southern living

February 24, 2009

If you put that in your search engine it will give you information

Hope it helps!

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MaypopLaurel Cleveland,GA/Atlanta, GA(Zone 7b) Jul 21, 2015

There are various cultivars that ultimately grow to different heights and widths. Be sure you are aware of the one you have before attacking. Some are easily kept as large shrubs or pruned to small trees while others will fight you until they reach twenty feet.

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Diana_K Contra Costa County, CA(Zone 9b) Jul 21, 2015

I would not prune it in the summer heat. The sun can burn the bark.

In a lawn, you probably want to train this as a tree.
I would remove one or two lower branches each year until the lower branches are OK to walk under. These branches are shading the trunk, and are supplying some of the energy the trunk needs to expand, so do not just wade in and strip it in one session- Let it take time.

Thin the ones you are keeping so they are well spaced to form scaffold limbs in the future tree. Again, do not do this in one session, but rather spread it out over time.

When the flowers fade or during the dormant season cut off the flower heads. You can also shorten the branches a bit when you do this.

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attedino Raleigh, NC(Zone 7a) Jul 26, 2015

Thanks for the replies

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