Crepe Myrtles in Dallas (Fredericksburg, Bartlett: landscaping, house, fit in)

[Rakin]

With our TX heat the Crepe Myrtles are starting to bloom and starting to look beautiful.

It's always sad to see CM's hacked back in the fall. I guess this all started with the cheap yard crews needing to stay busy through the winter.

Crepe Myrtles should be allowed to grow like a tree, not heavily pruned back and they will bloom just as well. A little light pruning of dead branches or shoots is all that's needed.

Please keep this in mind this fall so you don't ruin your beautiful plants.

[Mom2TwoBoys]

Crepe Myrtles are so beautiful! When we first moved to TX, we just fell in love with them. They really soften up the landscaping, I hope the house we buy will have some.

On a related note, are there any edible fruit bearing trees that do well in the Texas Heat? I would think there would be, but I don't see any.

Thank you.

[tycobb2522]

Originally Posted by Rakin

With our TX heat the Crepe Myrtles are starting to bloom and starting to look beautiful.

It's always sad to see CM's hacked back in the fall. I guess this all started with the cheap yard crews needing to stay busy through the winter.

Crepe Myrtles should be allowed to grow like a tree, not heavily pruned back and they will bloom just as well. A little light pruning of dead branches or shoots is all that's needed.

Please keep this in mind this fall so you don't ruin your beautiful plants.

AMEN! Crepe Murder should be a punishable offense. Who in the world decided that hacked up Crepes look good?

[TriumphOfTheSprint]

Originally Posted by Mom2TwoBoys

On a related note, are there any edible fruit bearing trees that do well in the Texas Heat? I would think there would be, but I don't see any.

We have a fruit-bearing pear tree in our backyard (Bartlett, I guess) from the previous owner - it produces a lot of pears, we couldn't eat them all last year.

Also, I know peaches will do well, Texas is famous for peaches - especially in the Fredericksburg area.

[cdelena]

Pruning is a matter of what the owner wants in their landscape. As much as I like full CM trees, some owners want the color at a lower level. I have even seen landscapes where dwarf varities are kept below 18 inches for color at that level. Since it is a fast growing adaptable plant pruning a CM is comparable to shaping a shrub, where good tree pruning practices are different.

[Lakewooder]

I have three huge crepe myrtles that are probably 60 years old or more. They are as tall as the two-story house. You really have to view the blooms from a distance!

Something I have noticed in the last few years is seedlings coming up around them. Does anyone know the lifespan of these? I'm wondering if they are propagating themselves for a reason.

[Rakin]

Originally Posted by cdelena

Pruning is a matter of what the owner wants in their landscape. As much as I like full CM trees, some owners want the color at a lower level. I have even seen landscapes where dwarf varieties are kept below 18 inches for color at that level. Since it is a fast growing adaptable plant pruning a CM is comparable to shaping a shrub, where good tree pruning practices are different.

The dwarf varieties are more like bushes & I do shape mine as needed.

Normal CM"s are more like a tree & you wouldn't hack an oak tree the same way. People need to find out more about them before they plant since they come in all sizes & colors when fully grown.

You wouldn't want to plant one that grows to 30 ft when you can plant one that only goes to 8ft.

Speaking of hacking tall trees, can you believe the crews that trim around power lines? I realize they need to trim away from the line but some of those V shaped trees are really sad.

[Grainraiser]

Crepe Myrtles should not be hacked up to fit in a area. No limb over the size of a pencil lead should be cut. They come in every size so buy the one that fits your landscape. They are cheap and easy to grow. Trying to make a tree into a shrub is just a horrible look IMHO.

[MurphyPl1]

Originally Posted by cdelena

Pruning is a matter of what the owner wants in their landscape. As much as I like full CM trees, some owners want the color at a lower level. I have even seen landscapes where dwarf varities are kept below 18 inches for color at that level. Since it is a fast growing adaptable plant pruning a CM is comparable to shaping a shrub, where good tree pruning practices are different.

Actually since CM come in a wide variety of sizes, it would make far more sense and provide better quality bloom if the owner would plant the right size plant for what they are intending. Proper pruning of a CM of the right size is just to cut the suckers off the base and any branches that are rubbing and possibly those in the center that would eventually create a more crowded appearance. Allowing the CM to grow to it's full glory with only minor tweaking allows the tree to end up with the pretty bark that mature CM should have.

[tycobb2522]

It's funny; when I see a really thick branch or trunk with multiple skinny little shoots all coming out of it, I can't help but think of the classic poodle haircut. I would have to say that out of all of the landscape atrocities committed by property owners, this practice is the most tasteless.

Followed closely by the overuse of the ubiquitous and incredibly boring Bradford Pear and red-tip Photenia.