Before pruning a crape myrtle, first decide if it needs to be pruned at all. As with any pruning project, you must have a specific, valid purpose in mind before you begin.

This falls under the term “crape murder.” The trend in pruning crape myrtles is to “lop off the tops.” The result is a tree that appears like an upside down broom.

You’ve probably seen crape myrtle trees pruned to look like a coat rack. Hopefully, you’re not guilty of doing this. The term “crape murder” was coined to describe this drastic topping of ...

Second, you should remember that trees are living things and when we prune them, we are intentionally wounding them. This sets up a response in the tree to try and minimize the damage.

To prune a crape myrtle properly, first decide if it needs to be pruned. As with any pruning project, you must have a specific, valid purpose in mind before you begin.