Crape Myrtle is an extremely suitable tree used in most landscapes to beautify the garden. Its botanical name is Lagerstroemia indica, this is a tree which is drought tolerant and can thrive where there is heat and humidity. Crape Myrtle has a lovely green flora in the spring and also has a very fascinating outline when it sheds it leaves during winter with its reddish peeling bark.

Crape Myrtle has outstanding flowers that really beautify the tree during the summer. It should be strategically planted in the landscape to create that breathtaking beauty. Though this tree is planted by various people in their yards, not all of them know how to go about the pruning process.

Correct pruning helps the tree to produce flowers earlier than the ones which have not been pruned. Pruning landscape Crape Myrtle trees involves the removal of unwanted branches to enhance the growth of new ones, which then sprout into new blooms. Other parts of the landscape tree which are removed, are the suckers which come from the base of the tree, dead branches, and all those branches growing in awkward areas and distracting the growth of the tree.

Before pruning this magnificent tree, it’s good to have an objective as to why this tree is being pruned. One of the most outstanding reasons why this landscape Crape Myrtle is pruned is to maintain well spaced main branches, which have thick barks and also to reduce the center part of the tree to enable sunlight and air to penetrate through without any hindrances.

When to prune will vary by location. If for example, one lives in warmer climates, it’s advisable to prune the Crape Myrtle tree a bit earlier at around late winter and early spring. This is because if the pruning is done in the middle of winter the new blooms may sprout and then freeze and die. On the other hand if one live in a cold climate where there is a lot of freezing, the tree should be pruned during late spring and early summer in order to detect he damages caused by the freezing winter temperatures. When appropriate pruning is practiced when this landscape tree is young there will be very minimal maintenance when the tree matures.

Deadheading the Crape myrtle is a very important process which is mostly ignored. This process includes pruning of dead old, and withered flowers from a plant as it blooms. Home owners are encouraged to deadhead  the crape myrtle tree once the flowers begin to fade to ensure that they bloom for a second time. Deadheading can be done by the use of the forefinger and thumb. However, to carry out the task professionally its recommended to use a pair of clean scissors which is sharp enough not to leave any stubs.

The home owner is required to be equipped with all the information on when and which tools to use before, carrying out the actual pruning. The first step to do is to look at the main trunks from the ground up wards and remove any suckers near the base of the tree of those which are germinating from the exposed roots of the tree. After this is done, it’s also very important to trim any growth which might be growing on the many trunks which is at least 4 feet in size. Another part of the landscape tree which needs to be taken care of is the canopy.

When the tree is growing it spreads up and forms a canopy at the top. This consists of dead branches as well as branches which are growing towards the center of the tree. It’s advisable to always prune the branches without leaving any stubs and also clear the branches which cross one another. Lastly if, the home owner wants to have a thick canopy with two times growth and many blooms, he is required to prune the stems about 6” to 12” from the main branch, if this is done correctly the stem should regenerate two new stems from the old stem, and this is a sure way of ensuring that many flowers are produced and also that the tree has a thick canopy.