Crape Myrtle Planting & Care
Crape Myrtle is a medium shrub or small tree with showy flowers that stick around for some of the hottest months of the year. Common in the south, Crape Myrtle will thrive in almost any soil and established plants are drought tolerant and deer resistant.
How to plant:
- · Water well in its pot before planting
- · Choose a bright, sunny spot (a shadier spot will produce less blooms)
- · Amend soil with organic matter (aged manure, worm castings, compost, etc)
- · Dig your hole 2’ deep by 2’-3 wide to give the roots plenty of space to grow
- · Space plants about 4’-6’ apart
Crape Myrtle shrubs require winter care similar to roses, so make sure you mulch them in the fall and stop deadheading to prepare the plant for dormancy. Prune in the spring to stimulate new growth. Young plants will need frequent watering for the first few seasons until the shrub is fully mature. Fertilize as needed in the spring and summer with a balanced NPK fertilizer.