The myrtle tree most often requiring attention is the Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica), a species known for its vibrant summer flowers and distinctive smooth, mottled bark. Pruning is a necessary maintenance practice to promote healthy growth and maintain the tree’s natural, graceful form. Properly executed cuts improve air circulation throughout the canopy, which helps prevent fungal diseases, while encouraging the robust new wood on which the summer flowers will appear.
When and How to Prepare for Pruning
The ideal time for pruning Crape Myrtles is during their dormant season, which generally falls in late winter or very early spring, typically from mid-February through March. Pruning during this window, before new buds begin to swell, minimizes stress on the tree and allows it to direct energy toward flower production when it breaks dormancy. Cutting back the tree earlier in the fall or early winter is discouraged because it can stimulate tender new growth that is highly vulnerable to damaging frost.
Preparation involves gathering the correct equipment and ensuring the tools are clean to prevent the spread of tree diseases. Sharp hand pruners are used for smaller branches up to one-half inch in diameter. Loppers handle medium-sized branches, generally between one-half and one and a half inches thick, offering greater leverage. Branches exceeding this size require a pruning saw for efficient removal.
Before making any cuts, all tools should be thoroughly cleaned and sharpened. Sanitizing the blades with rubbing alcohol or a diluted bleach solution before and after use reduces the risk of transmitting pathogens between plants. Sharp tools create clean wounds that heal quickly, while dull blades tear the wood and leave the tree susceptible to pests and disease.
Essential Pruning Cuts and Techniques
The initial step involves removing any branches that are dead, diseased, or crossing and rubbing against others. Eliminating these damaged or poorly positioned branches improves the tree’s health and establishes a sound, open structure. Crossing branches create friction that rubs off the bark, creating open wounds that invite pests and decay.
Thinning the crown is a foundational technique that allows light to penetrate the tree’s center and maximizes air movement. This is achieved by removing entire branches back to the main trunk or a larger lateral branch, rather than cutting them back arbitrarily. The goal is to remove branches that are growing inward or those that contribute to an overly dense canopy.
When making a cut to shorten a branch, the cut should be placed just above an outward-facing bud or a healthy side branch. This thinning cut directs the resulting new growth away from the center of the tree, helping to preserve the natural vase-like shape. For branches being removed completely, the cut must be made just outside the branch collar. This slightly swollen area contains specialized tissue for wound closure.
Height reduction, if necessary, should be accomplished by selectively thinning tall branches back to a healthy side branch growing in the desired direction. This method maintains the tree’s structural integrity, in contrast to simply cutting off the tops of the main trunks. Remove no more than about one-third of the total canopy in a single season.
Avoiding Common Pruning Mistakes
The most damaging error in Crape Myrtle maintenance is “Crape Murder,” which involves severely topping the main trunks down to thick stubs. This aggressive cutting creates large, open wounds that struggle to seal and are highly susceptible to decay. The resulting flush of new growth consists of numerous weak, whip-like shoots that are poorly attached and may struggle to support the weight of the summer blooms.
Immediate removal of suckers and water sprouts is necessary, as they divert energy from the flowering canopy. Suckers emerge from the base or roots, while water sprouts grow rapidly from the main branches. These growths should be cut or pulled off as soon as they appear, ensuring the cut is flush with the trunk or ground to prevent immediate regrowth.
After pruning, remove and dispose of all cut debris, as leaving it on the ground can harbor insects or fungal spores that could re-infect the tree. Applying pruning sealants or wound paint to the cuts is not recommended for myrtle trees. These materials can often trap moisture, which may hinder the tree’s natural healing process.