I've seen crepe myrtles trimmed as this guy does it and they still look healthy and have a denser bloom display. I'm not saying a minimalist touch is a bad thing, and a crepe myrtle that grow to full expression is nice, but I find the stridency of the light touch pruners grating. Get a life.
Trimming this "aggressively" is often way too much. Check out alternative opinions that many would say are the "correct" way to trim such a pretty tree. No video but excellent info: ctchorticulture.blogspot dot com/2010/01/pruning-crape-myrtles.html Video showing much better approach: CN02Qpt5agM Another great video: xzzNaId-XjE Don't ruin your trees; please learn the "correct" way.
Im a horticulture student and this is not how we were tought. You won't see this done at any botanical garden thats for sure. This is what landscapers do to charge more and give the workers something to do. Some will say this is how you get bigger blooms and that's not a lie but the crapemyrtle blooms sooner, blooms last longer and blooms prolifically if left alone. The biggest problem i've seen is poor planting locations. Make sure to give plants enough room to grow.
Just choose 3 well spaced branches and cut the rest to the ground. You will have to do this for many years before you'll have a nice tree form. The more that these plants are topped the more the "suckers" grow
How a bout one that has fifty upshoots from the ground.. I want the to look more like trees. My parent have been triming them and they are like bushes.. Is it time to pull it up and replant???
When the time comes, after maybe 3 to 5 years of uncut growth, only cut new branches along the base up to about 4 feet, and only upper branches that are growing inward. ONLY cut branches where two branches join, not halfway up a branch.
If you prune like this, or prune more often than every 3 or 4 years, you're gonna get stubbly gnarly stumps with a bushy mass of whispy thin branches on top.
The most accurate statement in this video is "this particular Crepe Myrtle has a dilemma". To bad it couldn't sprout legs and escape from the dilemma.
Do NOT follow this video - there are many sites on "how to prune a crape myrtle" - look them up - THIS VIDEO is a perfect example of HOW NOT TO PRUNE A CRAPE MYRTLE!!!!! ***WARNING***** DO NOT FOLLOW THIS VIDEO!
@momtoangel22 - couldn't agree more. He totally murdered that crape myrtle. I have 10 in my yard right now that I would love to have at the height it was before he started topping. I can understand trimming/pruning some of the interior growth, but to cut it back that much is ridiculous.
@bowler8 That is NOT the correct way to prune a crepe myrtle. There are smaller varieties if you want shorter crepe myrtles.
This method of pruning creates thin, whispy branches that will not support the blooms during a heavy rain. You risk a lot of broken branches when the first heavy spring rain comes along.
Remember how much your crepe myrtle sagged under the weight of rain when it was freshly planted?
@johncarync If you can figure out how to comment on youtube, you probably can figure out how to enter a search term into google. Nobody has a cache of super secret links to information.
The proper way to prune a crepe myrtle is, side branches growing from the main trunks up to at least 4 feet, higher branches growing in towards the center, crossing, rubbing, and dead branches. ONLY cut where two branches meet.
You really do not want to lop off the entire tree at an arbitrary height.
This a complete massacre and the technique is awful. There is absolutely NO reason to prune those trees so drastically. There are much better vids on Youtube on how to prune a crape myrtle.
It should be called how to destroy a beautiful crape myrtle. Granted you should cut out branches that cross each other, but there is no need to prune these trees so severely! Companies who do this are just looking for some fast cash and really aren't interested in doing what is best for the health of the tree. PLEASE DO NOT FOLLOW THIS VIDEO!!!
OK, I have to echo what has been said. This is the worst way to treat these trees. These are everywhere in my area of the country, and many here have the same ridiculous idea that a crepe myrtle needs to be basically lopped off at the top. Who taught this man to do this? His last words are, "Enjoy your crepe myrtles." How would you do that once you've ruined it?
No need to get nasty. There is apparently a long tradition of treating crapes like grape vines and hybrid tea roses, in other words, the plant is manipulated to be a flower factory and provide the most color in the smallest space. This does shorten the life of the tree and makes a grotesque looking object. Especially unfortunate, because the bark and winter form of the tree can be glorious. I don't think most people know that dwarf and semi-dwarf cultivars are available for small gardens.
Man this dude needs to go do some research on how to correctly prune a myrtle. Its a damb shame. Can anyone who knows absolutly nothing of prunning trees watch this video and not be mortified? All I can say is Thank Gawd this guy isnt a doctor.. If he did some prunning of my myrtles I'd have to hunt him down have him enjoy whats left of my crape myrtle across his chops
Man this dude needs to go do some research on how to correctly prune a myrtle. Its a damb shame. Can anyone who knows absolutly nothing of prunning trees watch this video and not be mortified? All I can say is Thank Gawd this guy isnt a doctor.. If he did some prunning of my myrtles I'd have to hunt him down have him enjoy whats left of my crape myrtle across his chops
OMG!! I can't BELIEVE this kind of Crape Murder is being advocated on a YouTube video. And with a Master Gardener as a "horticulture advisor"??? You've got to be kidding us.
I've seen crepe myrtles trimmed as this guy does it and they still look healthy and have a denser bloom display. I'm not saying a minimalist touch is a bad thing, and a crepe myrtle that grow to full expression is nice, but I find the stridency of the light touch pruners grating. Get a life.
gugullsux 2 weeks ago
Trimming this "aggressively" is often way too much. Check out alternative opinions that many would say are the "correct" way to trim such a pretty tree. No video but excellent info: ctchorticulture.blogspot dot com/2010/01/pruning-crape-myrtles.html Video showing much better approach: CN02Qpt5agM Another great video: xzzNaId-XjE Don't ruin your trees; please learn the "correct" way.
ipahophead 4 weeks ago
Im a horticulture student and this is not how we were tought. You won't see this done at any botanical garden thats for sure. This is what landscapers do to charge more and give the workers something to do. Some will say this is how you get bigger blooms and that's not a lie but the crapemyrtle blooms sooner, blooms last longer and blooms prolifically if left alone. The biggest problem i've seen is poor planting locations. Make sure to give plants enough room to grow.
MNTBB02 2 months ago
Disgusting massacre of a crepe myrtle tree!!! Not how you should prune!!
hiltykc 2 months ago
Just choose 3 well spaced branches and cut the rest to the ground. You will have to do this for many years before you'll have a nice tree form. The more that these plants are topped the more the "suckers" grow
MNTBB02 3 months ago
How a bout one that has fifty upshoots from the ground.. I want the to look more like trees. My parent have been triming them and they are like bushes.. Is it time to pull it up and replant???
thangamajig 3 months ago
This is NOT how to prune a crepe myrtle!!
First rule: Try not to prune your crepe myrtles.
When the time comes, after maybe 3 to 5 years of uncut growth, only cut new branches along the base up to about 4 feet, and only upper branches that are growing inward. ONLY cut branches where two branches join, not halfway up a branch.
If you prune like this, or prune more often than every 3 or 4 years, you're gonna get stubbly gnarly stumps with a bushy mass of whispy thin branches on top.
PhilLesh69 4 months ago 2
You killed that beautiful tree!!!! :(
alinhilde 4 months ago
The most accurate statement in this video is "this particular Crepe Myrtle has a dilemma". To bad it couldn't sprout legs and escape from the dilemma.
1991Magnolia 5 months ago 2
OMG - HE MURDERED THIS TREE :( POOR TREE :(
Do NOT follow this video - there are many sites on "how to prune a crape myrtle" - look them up - THIS VIDEO is a perfect example of HOW NOT TO PRUNE A CRAPE MYRTLE!!!!! ***WARNING***** DO NOT FOLLOW THIS VIDEO!
momtoangel22 6 months ago 4
@momtoangel22 - couldn't agree more. He totally murdered that crape myrtle. I have 10 in my yard right now that I would love to have at the height it was before he started topping. I can understand trimming/pruning some of the interior growth, but to cut it back that much is ridiculous.
mdchlapek 5 months ago 2
The one by ARextension is good too.
rrr1063 7 months ago
I know thats the correct way to prune, but they look so funny when they're pruned.
bowler8 8 months ago
@bowler8 That is NOT the correct way to prune a crepe myrtle. There are smaller varieties if you want shorter crepe myrtles.
This method of pruning creates thin, whispy branches that will not support the blooms during a heavy rain. You risk a lot of broken branches when the first heavy spring rain comes along.
Remember how much your crepe myrtle sagged under the weight of rain when it was freshly planted?
PhilLesh69 4 months ago
Crape murder
handymannification 9 months ago
Comment removed
connvee3 10 months ago
Comment removed
connvee3 10 months ago
what an IDIOT! crepe myrtles are NOT pruned this way!
zarkondamean 11 months ago
Argggh. Crape Murder!
See my rant at my blog at It's So Much More Than Grass. Johncarync, I teach a class on pruning with the town of Cary. Next class 9 April.
lynnwilhelm 11 months ago
Hey all you commenters...don't just tell me this is the wrong way, give me a link to the right way.
johncarync 11 months ago 2
@johncarync If you can figure out how to comment on youtube, you probably can figure out how to enter a search term into google. Nobody has a cache of super secret links to information.
The proper way to prune a crepe myrtle is, side branches growing from the main trunks up to at least 4 feet, higher branches growing in towards the center, crossing, rubbing, and dead branches. ONLY cut where two branches meet.
You really do not want to lop off the entire tree at an arbitrary height.
PhilLesh69 4 months ago
just ruined a tree- never TOP a tree
tazmankb26 11 months ago
Completely wrong and no longer an accepted form of pruning for crape myrtles.
theloneduchess 11 months ago
alot of people do this but it is completely the wrong way...this is referred to as crape murder!!!!!
kilgoja 11 months ago
Excellent! THANKS!! Everything I wanted to know is in your video. :)
katydid26 1 year ago
CRAPE MYRTLE MURDER!! This is the absolute WRONG way to prune! Do NOT use this method!!
MamaBear131 1 year ago
This is what we like to call "Crape Murder". Please take this video down.
JessamineGA 1 year ago
This a complete massacre and the technique is awful. There is absolutely NO reason to prune those trees so drastically. There are much better vids on Youtube on how to prune a crape myrtle.
3119810 1 year ago
Agree with heinzkloeter. If you are worried about the tree growing into a power line such pruning overkill can be justified.
aneimn 1 year ago
It should be called how to destroy a beautiful crape myrtle. Granted you should cut out branches that cross each other, but there is no need to prune these trees so severely! Companies who do this are just looking for some fast cash and really aren't interested in doing what is best for the health of the tree. PLEASE DO NOT FOLLOW THIS VIDEO!!!
heinzkloeter 1 year ago 2
what if those two trees died? i want to see the result the next spring. thanks
I have two crape myrtles, one needs pruning because it is not getting taller, the other is a bonsai work in progress
hugegiantfrogs 1 year ago
Wow! This is extremely informative. thank you.
readslotsofbooks 1 year ago
@readslotsofbooks This is so far from the proper way to prune any plant. Please, please do not follow this advice.
Google CTC Horticulture, they have a blog on blogspot that has a great post on properly pruning crapes.
JessamineGA 1 year ago
@JessamineGA Thanks for your information, too. I just found the blog regarding crape myrtles and saved it to my favorites. :)
katydid26 1 year ago
Thanks for sharing this. I'm looking forward to trying plumes in our yard.
yayager 1 year ago
so so helpful .. now ours looks so great
Chinarican80 1 year ago
this is like watching a snuff film
moron32 1 year ago
Please delete this video. It makes me sad.
butterflysisters 1 year ago
OK, I have to echo what has been said. This is the worst way to treat these trees. These are everywhere in my area of the country, and many here have the same ridiculous idea that a crepe myrtle needs to be basically lopped off at the top. Who taught this man to do this? His last words are, "Enjoy your crepe myrtles." How would you do that once you've ruined it?
filegumbo 1 year ago
That's just overkill! Bigger is better.
paratrooper95 1 year ago
How to hack a Myrtle
wendellaful 2 years ago
No need to get nasty. There is apparently a long tradition of treating crapes like grape vines and hybrid tea roses, in other words, the plant is manipulated to be a flower factory and provide the most color in the smallest space. This does shorten the life of the tree and makes a grotesque looking object. Especially unfortunate, because the bark and winter form of the tree can be glorious. I don't think most people know that dwarf and semi-dwarf cultivars are available for small gardens.
variegatus 2 years ago
Nice work, shows us another video once it grows out after this prunning.
tps70124 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Man this dude needs to go do some research on how to correctly prune a myrtle. Its a damb shame. Can anyone who knows absolutly nothing of prunning trees watch this video and not be mortified? All I can say is Thank Gawd this guy isnt a doctor.. If he did some prunning of my myrtles I'd have to hunt him down have him enjoy whats left of my crape myrtle across his chops
MrTastedeath 2 years ago
Man this dude needs to go do some research on how to correctly prune a myrtle. Its a damb shame. Can anyone who knows absolutly nothing of prunning trees watch this video and not be mortified? All I can say is Thank Gawd this guy isnt a doctor.. If he did some prunning of my myrtles I'd have to hunt him down have him enjoy whats left of my crape myrtle across his chops
MrTastedeath 2 years ago
OMG!! I can't BELIEVE this kind of Crape Murder is being advocated on a YouTube video. And with a Master Gardener as a "horticulture advisor"??? You've got to be kidding us.
wakjob12345678 2 years ago 2
Thank you for showing how to prune this tree. You're a nice guy.
podjanee 2 years ago