Heres how you’re able to put a stop to it.
I spied the latest victim on my morning walk today.
It did not block windows.
Credit: Steve Bender
It did not scrape the roof.
It did not impinge on the driveway.
Nevertheless, the unspeakable happened.
Call itThe Alabama Chainsaw Massacre.
Do not imagine for a second that such tragedy is confined to my home state, however.
If you live anywhere crepe myrtles grow, it’s likely transpiring near you as well.
But it’s possible for you to break the cycle.
And hopefully all your neighbors will follow suit.
What Is Crepe Murder?
But even well-intentioned crepe owners using shears and loppers can be guilty of crepe murder.
Repeated pruning to the same point creates gnarled, knobby “knuckles” on the ends of the trunks.
In short order, a thicket of long, weak, whiplike branches sprouts from each knuckle.
These whips are too weak to support the flowers and hang straight down like cooked spaghetti.
These beautiful bloomers come in all sizes and an array of bloom colors so your options are endless.
If youre short on space, look for adwarf or semi-dwarf selection.
If youre dealing with a too-big myrtle already.
move it to where it has more room.These trees are easy to plantand respond well to transplanting.
Prune only to maintain natural form.
Select four or five well-spaced main trunksremove any others at ground level.
Train these trunks to grow upward and outward from the base of the plant.
As they grow taller, gradually remove all side branches up to four to five feet.
This growth exposes the smooth, handsome bark.
Prune large branches back to a crotch.
Never leave thick stubs.
