It’s no secret that in many areas with cold winters (USDA hardiness zones 6-9), hardy crape myrtle cultivars are now available. In northern areas like eastern Maryland and northern VA, crape myrtles have been prospering for two decades and more. However, there is one rule regarding winter care — “Don’t Touch”. Hold off all pruning of crape […]
Archive for the ‘Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia)’ Category
Avoid Crape Myrtle Woes In Winter
Posted by Hugh on October 25th, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compact tree, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Fertilizing plants, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on Avoid Crape Myrtle Woes In Winter10 Winter Care Tips For Landscape Plants
Posted by Hugh on October 10th, 2015
Fall-planted perennials, shrubs and trees need some additional attention. Here are 10 basic tips to help plants get past potential winter woes: Select balled-and-burlapped (b&b) or container-grown plants rather than bare-rooted stock. Most bare-root plants are planted in late winter or early spring when plants are still dormant. Evergreens, […]
Posted in Apple tree, Asian Pears, Bulb Crops, Container growing, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Crocus, Daffodil (Narcissus), Magnolia liliiflora, mulching, mulching trees, Pear (Pyrus spp.), Perennials, Planting tips, Pruning, Rabbit/deer Protection, Repotting plants, Roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Vitex (Chaste tree), watering evergreens, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Wind protection, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on 10 Winter Care Tips For Landscape PlantsCrape Myrtles With Awesome Bark
Posted by Hugh on August 24th, 2015
Many cultivars of crape myrtles are hybrids that combine the large, colorful flowers of common crape myrtle (L. indica) with the mildew-resistance and cold hardiness of Japanese crapemyrtle (L. faurei). Many U.S. National Arboretum hybrid releases excel with beautiful year-round ornamental bark. Among the tree forms are ‘Natchez’ (my favorite), ‘Apalachee’, ‘Lipan’, ‘Muskogee’, and Tuscarora’. Natchez possesses extraordinary cinnamon brown winter […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Crape Myrtles With Awesome BarkWinter Damage On Crape Myrtles
Posted by Hugh on June 2nd, 2015
Extremely cold winters of 2013-14 and 2014-15 have damaged many cultivars of crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia x indica). Don’t assume that new crape myrtles are hardy; many are rated hardy only to zone 7. Several of the U.S. National Arboretum cultivars are hardy in zone 6. Gardeners living in the […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, compact tree, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, winter injury Comments Off on Winter Damage On Crape MyrtlesTips On Crape Myrtles In Fall And Winter
Posted by Hugh on November 24th, 2014
Hardy cultivars of crape myrtles are best left alone in the fall. Light pruning to remove a broken branch or the seed capsules is ok, but major pruning should wait until early spring. “Crape murder” is a common practice in the Southeast U.S. and is not recommended any time or place. It involves lopping […]
Posted in Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Failure to Bloom, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Tips On Crape Myrtles In Fall And WinterAvoiding Crape Myrtle Hardiness Problems
Posted by Hugh on August 15th, 2014
Late summer (September 1st) is your deadline to plant crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) in USDA hardiness zone 6. Your primary objective should be to grow deep plant roots. Crape myrtles are classified as perennials in northerly areas of zone 6. In many years their woody branches die back after a cruel cold winter. The hardy […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Aphids, compact shrub, compact tree, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Insect (Pest) Problems, mulching trees, Pesticide recommendations, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Pruning, Scale, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Avoiding Crape Myrtle Hardiness ProblemsCrape Myrtle Diseases And Pests
Posted by Hugh on July 23rd, 2014
Not all crape myrtle cultivars are alike. Some are more susceptible to diseases and insect pests more than others. Overall, the U.S. National Arboretum (USNA) hybrid crapemyrtles are more disease and insect resistant, but not to all problems. Some cultivars are susceptible to aphids, usually in the spring. Their sugary excretions over leaves and stems […]
Posted in Cercopora leaf spot, compact shrub, compact tree, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease prone, Disease resistant, Insect (Pest) Problems, Japanese beetles, Pesticide recommendations, Powdery mildew, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Crape Myrtle Diseases And PestsDisease Resistant Crape Myrtle Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on July 17th, 2014
‘Apalachee’ crape myrtle trunk Hybrid crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica x L. faurei) are popular landscape trees in the southeast and along the coastal areas of the U. S. Over the past decade plant pathologists in Louisiana (Louisiana State University), Alabama (Auburn University), South Carolina (Clemson University), and Georgia (University of Georgia) have tested the disease […]
Posted in acidic soil, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark Comments Off on Disease Resistant Crape Myrtle CultivarsDesigning With Crape Myrtle
Posted by Hugh on July 14th, 2014
Undeniably, crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica x L. faurei ) thrive in the southern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). You see them planted on practically every street. Their showy summer flowers are spectacular. Many cultivars exhibit colorful autumn foliage, and their smooth patterned trunks and architecture grace the winter landscape. “The right crape myrtle for the […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, compact tree, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Failure to Bloom, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Winter bark, winter hardiness, winter injury Comments Off on Designing With Crape MyrtlePreventing Powdery Mildew Disease On Summer Plants
Posted by Hugh on May 18th, 2014
Powdery mildews are serious fungal leaf diseases infecting many garden plants. Each one is host specific. The powdery mildew that attacks summer phlox does not infect zinnias or pumpkin vines. Powdery mildew disease on crape myrtles does not attack lilacs or roses. In recent years new powdery mildew diseases have popped up on dogwoods and […]
Posted in Crabapple, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease prone, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Garden Problems, Irrigation, Lilac (Syringa), Monarda (Beebalm), Peony, Perennials, Phlox, Powdery Mildew, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Zinnia Comments Off on Preventing Powdery Mildew Disease On Summer Plants
