Topping crape myrtles seems like a winter tradition but it does not have to be. Crape myrtles are trees that come in many forms and offer a variety of bloom colors. These generally carefree plants should be low maintenance and not generate debris for disposal. Before you decide to hard prune your crape myrtles, determine why you are pruning in this manner. Crape myrtles that are only selectively pruned have generally more flowers and less suckers than those that are severely pruned. Crape myrtles also provide nice shade in the summer and attractive bark and structure in the winter that is destroyed by hard pruning. Visit the Extension office Demonstration Garden to view selective pruning of our many crape myrtle varieties.

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