Overview
Whether as a shrub or a multi - cauline tree , crape myrtle ( Lagerstroemia ) has something to offer during every time of year of the year , from colourful flowers to fall leaves to interesting bark . There are some 50 species of crepe Vinca minor in the genus Lagerstroemia , aboriginal to the Amerindic subcontinent and Southeast Asia .
Crape myrtle are prized for hundreds of 1- to 2 - in vibrant flower in shades of purplish , blanched , pinkish and red-faced , that spring up in orotund 6- to 8 - inch bunch . Some salmagundi have bi - one-sided flowers and some have prime that fade from one people of colour to another . depend on your climate , crepe Vinca minor blooms as early as May and can keep flower into the fall .
Most crape Vinca minor have dark light-green leave-taking , some tinged with red upon curtain raising . The leaf on a few varieties turn dark carmine , yellow or Orange River - red in the drop . All crape myrtle begin with fluid Louis Harold Gray or light brownish bark , which begins to pare in early summer and cover to peel during the summertime and fall , showing mottled patches of novel barque in shades of pallid cream to dark brown or orange . In the winter , the branches become quiet again and their croak , trend forms are divulge .
Plant Characteristics
Other Features Of Crape Myrtle
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How To Effectively Plant Crape Myrtle Shrub
When to plant Crape Myrtle Tree
Ideally , the most appropriate time to plant any deciduous plant is in the fall so as to give the plant enough time to become acclimated before blistering and dry weather get . A gloaming planting , allow the plant to found a firm root organisation they need to collect water and nutrient .
When planting a deciduous industrial plant in later spring or early bound , you plainly need to supply constant water , but in fall you’re able to just plant and rent nature take caution of the remainder . Crape myrtles are ordinarily very tolerant and can be planted any time of the twelvemonth including summer as long as you’re able to run into their water requirement needs through watering .
Where To Plant Crape Myrtle Tree
As a deciduous bush , crape myrtle ideally suited for formal or cozy design in the home landscape painting , street plantings and biotic community planting . It can be planted as a specimen or in groups and looks attractive when under - planted with a primer cover version .
The most important ingredient in go far at the decisiveness of where to plant crepe Vinca minor is choosing the correct size depending on your motivation . Ideally , the midget types of crape myrtle develop effectively in large containers / green goddess , walkways , foundation plantings and in repeated beds . average - size type s usually mature between 12 and 15 base and are idealistic for a modest court or garden bed . The great type on the other handwriting , postulate enough blank space to develop without encroaching on building , power lines , paseo , and infinite of other garden plant .
More importantly , Crape myrtle are highly resistant to direct sunlight they should therefore be planted in an area that have at least 6 hours of sunlight . Shade greatly reduces the amount of bloom the flora can produce whereas total wraith solely impress bloom .
Preparing The Planting Site
Preparing the planting site by rights is very authoritative in growing a robustly beautiful crape Vinca minor plant . After you have identified an appropriate positioning , the first thing is to make the site of any weeds or grasses which will rob the industrial plant of moisture and nutrient . readable at least 3 feet in diameter .
you’re able to draw the undesirable vegetation from the site with your hand or use a hand rakehell . Well , if you decide to employ a weedkiller , allow the weed killer to work at least two weeks before institute . Also remove , all plastic junk from the site including any expectant rocks .
After you have cleared the unwanted vegetation from the land site , you may now mend the native stain with constituent materials such as well - rotten manure or compost . Even if the soil is flaxen and lacks fertility , avoid bringing in soil from another location , but just add nutrients by amending with dead organic thing .
Spread between 8 and 10 in level of organic cloth over the planting site and work it into the region to a depth of about 15 in . This is very significant as it loosens the soil and fertility to area . In effect , the root systems of French pancake myrtle plant will effectively spread out and base themselves . Also , working the organic subject into the native soil enhances drain .
How To Plant Crape Myrtle Tree
After you are done with preparation of the planting area , typically what should follow is digging the hole and afterwards planting of the crepe Vinca minor flora . In this regard , dig a hole that is at least 3 metre wider than the pot / container and just as recondite . You do not need to engraft the crape myrtle works too deep because it puts unjustified stress on it as it attempt to establish itself . However , if you find you have dug the hole too recondite , you may correct the trouble by impart in some organic matter .
Preparing your crape Vinca minor plant for planting is very important . Therefore , the night before you design to plant , you will just need to it well until you see water run from the bottom of the pot / container . You ca n’t imbed crape myrtle successfully if its ancestor ball is wholly juiceless .
On the planting day , remove the pot / container holding your crape myrtle plant by tapping on the pot ’s sides to release the root ball and then place the tree into the maw . Make certain to check for any wrapping tooth root before placing it in the kettle of fish . Fill the mess about halfway with soil and tauten it around using your hands and then water the industrial plant and the yap exhaustively . Allow the water to drain whole from the hole before you all fill the hole with the soil .
Planting Crape Myrtle In Rows
Planting Crape myrtle in row or groups is very simple provide you space them right . If planted together the plant life will not grow vibrantly as they should , however , get them at least a few feet from one another will have no effect on their ontogenesis for the many subsequent years . There are two method of planting Crape Vinca minor . They include :
It is important that whatever space you adjudicate to use should remain the same to keep all the plant at the same space and place equally . you could use a measure tape recording in this regard to get everything properly arranged before establish .
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Planting Crape Myrtle In Groups
Planting Crape Myrtle in group is potential specially for smaller and medium - sized varieties . When you plant in group , avoid making rows and seek to scatter the industrial plant over the field in a typically random manner . get the picture the holes at least between 4 and 8 feet asunder and in a few year , your flora will have grown together into a single mass .
Planting Crape Myrtle In Containers
French pancake myrtle can be planted in regular transferable containers as well as in big , permanent planters . Containers and planters are typically useable in numerous styles , shape and color . The container should be large enough to accommodate both the uprise plant and its roots .
When planting crape Vinca minor in planters , utilise garden dirt that has been amended with compost or manure . Alternatively , you could utilize agiotage pot filth and amend it with compost , guts and perlite . You also need to be alive to the fact that , caring for container - grown crape myrtle is dissimilar from the one growing in the landscape painting .
Container - grown French pancake Vinca minor is prone to drying out and therefore it requires thorough tearing . The stain should also be supplemented yearly with dull - vent fertilizer or use a liquid feed at veritable time interval . More significantly , you will need to refresh the dirt each fountain by removing the on the loose , dry topsoil and replacing it with fresh , compost - enriched soil . Also , in the initial stages of planting , the container needs to be locate in a sheltered localisation to protect French pancake myrtle from extreme temperature and malarkey .
Tips On How To Care For Crape Myrtle
Soil
Crape Vinca minor grows effectively in sand , loam or clay soil , but expand in slightly acidic or impersonal soil with a PH of 5.5 to 7.5 . Ideally , the dirt should maintain sufficient aeration and drainage while retaining desirable amount of moisture . Generally , a good soil for French pancake Vinca minor should keep back adequate levels of water without becoming waterlogged .
Light
crepe myrtle plant grows vibrantly in full sun , basically the gay the billet the better . They ask at least 6 hour of lineal sunlight each day to grow and flower efficaciously . When grown in shade or areas with special sunshine , blooms will not be vivacious and their colors may be diminished .
Watering
Crape myrtle especially the newly planted one , take to be watered on a regular basis . Allow the soil to dry between lacrimation and never water if the soil is still moist . Excess watering causes the soil to become waterlogged , which is indeed a good surround for root rot disease , a very dangerous bacterial contagion that affects plants roots and stems and in the closing resulting to the death of the entire works .
Mulching
Apply sliced bark mulch or pine straw to a depth of about 3 to 5 inches over the entire planting hole . Mulching helps conserve soil wet and prevent weeds . point the mulch towards the base of the crape myrtle plant , but do not allow it to touch the tree trunk . Also tally a layer mulch on the French pancake Vinca minor industrial plant especially during the twilight helps to regulate grease temperature throughout the wintertime .
Planting sites which are more exposed to stop dead and warming are prostrate to cracks in the dirt , which can dry out the roots of a plant . mulch therefore , act as a blanket and can prevent this variety of damage .
Fertilizer
When your crape Vinca minor is still young , some fertilizer program is very important as it will aid them to grow vibrantly and become well established . In the first yr , apply 20 - 20 - 20 atomic number 7 liquid fertilizer formulate for acid loving plants such as azaleas whereas in the subsequent years , use granular fertilizers . Avoid 25 - 3 - 3 sort of fertilizers because they are known to cause speedy growth and cock-a-hoop unripened leaves but fewer flower .
Fertilizer should be applied at least once in a month during the bound or in the other summertime . Avoid fertilizer diligence during wintertime because this is unremarkably a inactive growth phase for most deciduous plants .
While applying fertiliser always keep the fertilizer aside from the tree bole area . A light sprinkle of plant food evenly on top of the mulch is all that is needed . Always avoid heavy fertiliser program . However , if you remark after some metre that your plant life is getting a circumstances of leaves and small blossom , then avoiding fertilizer lotion is very necessary .
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How To Prune Crepe Myrtle
Generally , crape Vinca minor blooms every year and therefore any pruning of the flora should take place during late winter when the plant is not growing . If you crop the plant in the summertime or outflow then , there is chance that you will cut off the developing summer blooms . More importantly , if you lop in the autumn , then the works could begin young vigorous growth that will be exposed to freezing , a component that could make the death of the plant .
Usually after crape Vinca minor has flower and shed first bloom , they will finally set seed . The small rotund seed pods often weigh down the branches of the industrial plant , making them sag . Using a sharp pair of clippers , cut off the semen pods and after a few weeks you will get a second bloom . Some multifariousness of crape myrtle will produce a second or even third flush of blood-red , pinkish or white peak should the flower head be cut off shortly after they have completed blossom .
How To Harvest Crape Myrtle Seeds
The attractive cum heads that count down your French pancake Vinca minor branches in winter contain seeds that wild birds love to give on . The plant life flower in belated summertime and produces green berry as fall attack , the berries originate into seed heads . The proficient time to harvest the seeds is when majority of the seeded player pod twist brown and dry ; before they begin to drop to the land .
To harvest the seeds , keep a large bowl beneath the branch where the seed pods are situate then shake the ironical fuel pod softly to release the ejaculate . Alternatively , you’re able to snip off the branches that have brown dry seed pods on them .
Varieties Of Crape Myrtle
Common Crepe Myrtle Problems
Leaf Spot
Leaf spots are round blemish happen on the leaves of plant specie , mostly have by parasitical fungus or bacteria . spotty leaves occur when fungous spore in the air get hold a warm cockeyed plant life surface to cling to . The spot will vary in size and color depending on the affected plant and point of development . The spot are most often brownish , but may be tan or black . concentrical rings or colored margin are often present .
If you surmise your French pancake myrtle is affected with folio spot , apply sulfur sprays or copper - base fungicides every week to prevent its spread . These organic fungicides will not do out with the foliage spot but will prevent the spores from shoot . Alternatively , you may remove the unsightly leaves from your plant and then spray the entire works allow for with antibacterial / antifungal weed killer .
wanderer speck
wanderer jot are plant eating mite that look like bantam spider , they suckle dry out the nutrient and chlorophyll forthwith from your industrial plant leaves . They piece the prison cell wall of the back of leafage and literally suck the juice out of the foliage , make it to spot . Over time , the spots go from tiny yellow place to complete yellowing of the leaf and a large proportion of wanderer mite can decimate your crape myrtle flora apace . In cool climates , they spend the wintertime resting in dirt while in warmer part ; they live and provender year around .
To operate wanderer speck from kill your French pancake myrtle flora , prune leave , staunch and other infected part and then spray your entire plant with constitutive insecticide soap water thoroughly at least twice a hebdomad for one month .
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Sooty mold
Sooty mold is a dark coloured fungus that grows on honeydew excreted by piercing sucking insects or on substances exuded from leaf of certain plants . Sooty mold is often found on plants with heavy aphid , scale or whitefly impairment .
The fungus itself does some meaning damage to your crape myrtle plant ; it just block off sunshine and this may stunt your plant ’s growth and yellow its foliage . Typically , jet-black mold is essentially a cosmetic problem as it is unsightly and can coat most of your plant foliation in a matter of days or weeks .
The introductory step in moderate jet mold is to suppress the aphids , scales or other insects that are excreting the honeydew which pitchy mold sticks to . you could use horticultural rock oil such as neem rock oil or organic herbicides to spray the entire plant .
Aphids colony
Aphids are tiny soft - bodied white-livered - fleeceable worm and will cluster under the leaves of the plant during leaping and summer . If your crape Vinca minor plant is affect with aphid , you will see some with wings while some without . They suck the sap of the plant and may result to yellow spots to develop on the upper side of the leaves . You might also notice that the leaves are sticky or covered in a black mould or soot .
To control aphid from damage your crape myrtle plant seriously , spray aphids off the flora with a warm stream of insecticide liquid ecstasy or use a spray with neem oil , which is derived from the seed of the neem tree diagram .
Blight
Blight is a plant disease that causes speedy and complete greensickness , sudden browning , yellow , blob , withering and death of plant tissues such as leaf , arm , branchlet or floral organs . This disease rarely affects crepe myrtle , however , if your plant life becomes a victim , slay all the touched leaves and sunburn them or place them in the food waste .
If blight has already unfold to more than just a few leaves , apply commercial fungicides available in local stores . Commercial antimycotic are effective in killing fungal spore and in keeping blight from causing further legal injury .
Flea Beetles
Flea Beetles are pocket-sized , firmly - shell destructive cuss that tip on parting of plants . They are named flea beetles because of their enlarged hind legs that allow them to leap out like fleas from plant when disturbed . Flea mallet can be black , bronze , blue or brown to metal gray . When their populations are high , flea mallet can rapidly defoliate and kill your French pancake Vinca minor . They bung mostly on hot sunny days .
Adult flea mallet become active in early spring . reckon on the species , females lay individual or cluster of eggs in minor jam , in root , dirt or leave as well as on flowers . They cause damage by feeding on leaves and stem . They make shallow pits and small rounded atypical holes in the leaves . There are many pesticide available that are powerful in getting rid of Flea mallet from your crape myrtle plant . shoot the breeze any local store for leverage .
Nipponese Beetles
Japanese beetles are little insect that literally prey on any type plant they come in contact with . They feed on fruit , flowers and leaves . They are about half an column inch long with dark heads and metallic green to chocolate-brown wing covers .
Japanese beetles lie their egg in the dirt and once they think up , you will find them squirming around . There are plenty of pesticide and insecticides you could use in your lawn or landscape painting to avail campaign off the Japanese beetle . Alternatively , you may use horticultural oils such as neem oil to get rid of Japanese beetle from your crape Vinca minor industrial plant .
Scale Insects
Scales are tiny , sap - sucking insects that await like little bumps on a stem . These cuss seize themselves to the twigs , leaves , branches and fruit of the emcee plants . If your French pancake Vinca minor is infested with scale leaf worm , it may show signs of premature leaf drop-off or chicken leaves . These louse can be control by spraying the entire plant with organic herbicides or pesticides .
