Why are my crepe myrtle trees not flowering?

Why are my crepe myrtle trees not flowering?

If no flowers appear, it can be because the tree was pruned late in the season, mistakenly removing the new wood which causes the buds for the flowers to never really develop. Never prune a crape myrtle BEFORE it blooms.

When should my crepe myrtle bloom?

3. Bloom time can vary by 6-8 weeks depending on your variety of crape myrtle. Flower blossoms develop on new growth, so while each variety varies in its exact bloom time, flowering can also depend on the pruning you did in winter.

What is the best fertilizer for crepe myrtle trees?

Fertilizers including 8-8-8, 10-10-10, 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 will work fine and are ideal for crape myrtles, but don’t go overboard. Overfertilizing trees will cause excess growth and reduce the number of blooms on each tree.

Are crape myrtles late bloomers?

Unlike other shrubs and trees, however, Crape Myrtles are not spring bloomers and oftentimes don’t begin to push foliage out until late spring or early summer. In general, more established (older) Crape Myrtles and Crape Myrtles planted in full sun locations will begin to “wake up” a bit sooner than younger specimens.

How do I get my crepe myrtle to bloom?

Crape myrtles require eight hours of direct sun daily to bloom well. Crape myrtles planted in areas that receive less than six hours of direct sun do not get enough sunlight for adequate bloom development. – Variety. Some varieties don’t flower as vigorously as others.

How do I make my crepe myrtle bloom?

Crape myrtles need to have new growth each spring in order to produce summer flowers. These flowers come on current-season growth, so late winter/early spring fertilization can aid crape myrtle flowering in the summer. It is not too late to fertilize this year if you haven’t yet.

Why are crepe myrtles not leafing out?

If your crepe myrtle is not leafing out, check the buds. Remove a leaf bud and cut it in half. If it is green on the outside but brown on the inside, it has suffered cold damage from late freezes. Buds that are brown all the way through have been dead a long time.

What time of the year do you cut back crepe myrtles?

February is a good time to prune crape myrtles. It should be done before fresh growth appears in March. Its toughness makes crape myrtle a popular plant. They are fast-growing and highly adaptable.

How do you get a crepe myrtle to flower?

Crape myrtles need to have new growth each spring in order to produce summer flowers. These flowers come on current-season growth, so late winter/early spring fertilization can aid crape myrtle flowering in the summer. It is not too late to fertilize this year if you haven’t yet. – Shade.

What is wrong with my crepe myrtle tree?

Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) are essentially trouble-free small trees. The most common problems include powdery mildew, Cercospora leaf spot, aphids, Japanese beetles, and sooty mold.

What happens if you don’t prune a crape myrtle?

Leaving it alone will result in a pretty raggedy-looking tree, and it won’t grow as quickly either. The new growth will emerge on its own from the fresh cuts, and if you trim at just the right point, you’ll encourage way more blooms to appear.

How do I bring my crepe myrtle back to life?

Once the crape myrtle has become tall enough, allow nature to take its course, as the pods will drop and the tree will bloom on its own. The rule of thumb for pruning a crape myrtle is much like pruning any other plant. Remove any dead or dying branches. Thin out twiggy growth to allow air to better circulate.

What is wrong with my crepe myrtle?

What happens if you don’t prune crape myrtles?

Should you trim crepe myrtles every year?

Also, crepe myrtles need minimal pruning. Some gardeners top them annually, but this ruins their natural shape and beauty. Remove the sucker growth that sometimes appears around the base. Only prune to shape trees or to take out any cross branching.