Description

• Crape myrtles are attractive shrubs with a growth habit that tends to be in a reverse pyramidal shape. Foliage is bright green and blooms are most commonly a bright pink, though some cultivars bloom red, white or purple. Many varieties of crape myrtle shrubs have been developed that vary in growth habits, height and blossom color.
  
  

When to Prune

• The optimum time for pruning crape myrtles is late winter into early spring. Pruning during this time reduces the chances that the crape myrtles will contract an infection, as the crape myrtle shrubs will not be in their active growth phase. Never prune in late summer, as this will encourage a wasteful growth spurt. It is never advisable to prune during wet weather.
  
  

How to Prune

• When crape myrtles are pruned, they become susceptible to infection. Be sure to prune in a safer manner by sterilizing your shears. Avoid pruning in damp conditions. Prune in a manner that minimizes wounding and cuts in the bark. Prune away new growth leading to the interior of the crape myrtle, as this will open the plant up and allow sunlight to reach all the leaves of the shrub. Prune away horizontal twig growth and secondary sucker growth, making these cuts just outside of the growth ring. To promote a good canopy, prune all new growth growing in the appropriate direction -- up and out -- at most six inches from the branch intersection. For these cuts, never prune to the "knuckles," or growth rings along the branch. A good way to avoid this is to bend the branch that you need to prune and make the cut at the point near the branch intersection at which the branch being pruned starts to bend.
  
  

Tools

• Hand pruning shears are manual shears that are best for close in, delicate work on twigs, buds and branches less than 1 inch in diameter. A small handsaw or folding pruning saw will be best for easy to access, thick branches. Lopping shears are hand tools that are best used for thinner branches on tall crape myrtles, as they will give an advantage in hard to reach areas. Use a pole saw for very thick, difficult to reach branches that lopping shears are not strong enough for.