How do I get my crepe myrtle to flower?
Question:I planted it in my backyard just over 3 years ago and every year it grows leaves and branches but it never flowers? I have trimmed it back in the fall and used fertilizer but still...nothing. What do I do?
Answers:
It takes crepe myrtles a few years to establish and flower. Hopefully this year is your lucky year. If you're going to cut them back, do it right after they flower in the summer, don't wait till fall.
I live in Tennessee and the flowering season for them is about a month away. You can get a second, smaller bloom by cutting the flowers off immediately after they fade. You also don't actually have to trim them after the flowers pass by unless you want to for ethstetic reasons.
You may be trimming back too late in the season. Flowering generally takes place on old growth. Plants of this type should only be trimmed immediately after blooming to allow the new growth sufficient time to mature. Don't trim it this year at all.
More Related Questions & Answers...