Styles come and go. Some are timeless, while others beg to be forgotten. So it is with crepe myrtles and the current trend of lopping off their tops. Remember crew cuts? They're out. Natural forms are in.

The satin-smooth bark and sinewy trunks of a graceful crepe myrtle make a statement in the winter garden. But amputated, knuckled, and disfigured branches mar the tree's outline, just when it should be an asset.

Crepe myrtles need pruning. If done correctly, the pruning goes unnoticed. Think of it as training. By enhancing the natural habit of the tree, you guide your crepe myrtle into a form that is both handsome and easy to maintain.