The purpose of pruning is to create a canopy where air can circulate and all branches can receive sunlight. Unfortunately, many homeowners and professionals alike decide to ‘top’ the trees which can damage and disfigure the trees. This results in the ‘witch’s broom’ appearance and leaves the tree out of proportion. The topped area results in a profusion of new growth which restricts air movement and makes the tree susceptible to disease and insects. Topping may result in more blooms; however, the blooms will be on weaker branches, prone to drooping and breakage. The tree will also be more prone to ice damage.
Some of this severe pruning is done to control the height of the tree. There are so many types of crape myrtles available and they range in height from dwarf varieties which only reach six feet in height to the beautiful white Natchez, which can quickly reach twenty to thirty feet in height. So rather than setting your heart on a certain color, decide the maximum height you want and go from there.
The Crape Myrtle is a stunning tree all year long, so treat it with Southern kindness and say fiddle-dee-dee to the chainsaw and be gentle with the pruners.
I wish this practice would stop. It's so ugly, I can't imagine anyone thinking it's good for the trees. Maybe with more education and awareness, people will stop this cruel practice.
ReplyDeletethat's really important about the size. i think one of the main reasons people butcher them is because they grow too big for the spot they put them in. it does make you cringe to see those poor mistreated trees. by the way, that sillouette picture is great.
ReplyDeleteCrepe murder makes me crazy!!! I have neighbors who do it. Someone told me once that that their 'landscaper' recommended it and I replied that he was just looking for a paycheck. A dirty truck and a chainsaw doesn't make someone a landscaper. I'm in the process of cleaning up the branch pruning job I did on one of my crepes to allow more light into the middle. It's painful how much ignorance is out there. If it were survival of the smartest instead of the fittest, the world would be significantly less populated. Apparently, there are a lot of really fit morons out there.
ReplyDeleteYou had me at that picture of nancy drew! We have massive ugly crepe mrytles around our streets downtown. I'd say about 50% natural and 50% bizarro. And, it seems to me, they all have the same bloom times, which run into months.
ReplyDeleteYou are preaching to the choir! I spent two hours today working with a neighbor, helping her correct a lopped crape myrtle. There are so many crape myrtles around here that have been murdered!
ReplyDeleteNever cared for the hacking up of crape myrtles either. Great entertainment lamenting about them. We have two small ones a gift from the National Arbor Day Society, couldn't they have given away native plants or at least plants that are wildlife beneficial. They have proven very hardy as the whips took me a long time to figure out where to plant them.
ReplyDeleteI think it is also easier just to top!
ReplyDeleteSadly, Crape Myrtles are not hardy here. I wish they were beacause they have such pretty flowers. The Crape Myrtles in your second image look just awful! It is a shame to see them so mistreated.
ReplyDeleteIf you want an entertaining read on Crape Murder, read Steve Bender's blog ...the Grumpy Gardener. He had a Crape Murder contest. He's got some horrible pictures and a funny commentary on each one. It is a sad practice indeed.
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