They Keep on Blooming
Unlike spring's cherry trees, with delicate flowers that may last only a week or two, crepe myrtles can bloom all summer. Light tip pruning or snipping off old blooms will encourage more flowers (see the "Pruning Tips" sidebar). Although tip pruning may be recommended, heavy cutbacks (sometimes called crepe murder) in late winter or early spring are never a good idea. Many people who don't know better cut back trees in February or March, leaving only 4- or 5-foot trunks sticking up out of the ground. This ruins the natural shape of the trees. It also causes multiple shoots to sprout from the cut-back point. Trees then grow so thick that air circulation is reduced, making the plants more susceptible to aphids, sooty mold, and powdery mildew. The numerous branches also create too heavy a load, which can cause them to split or crack during heavy rains or high winds.

Know a crepe myrtle's mature height before you plant it. If you don't want it to be too big, look for a low-growing selection (see chart on the next page). Crepe myrtles range in height from 2 feet to 30 feet. Trees such as 'Natchez' or 'Tuscarora' reach 25 to 30 feet in height. 'Sioux' and 'Regal Red' are medium-size selections that will grow only 12 to 15 feet tall. These medium trees are perfect for a small courtyard or patio. Breeders also market dwarf selections. Some of those, such as 'Chickasaw' and 'Pokomoke,' have been around for a while, and many new dwarf selections have been introduced in recent years. A number of trees grow less than 3 feet tall.