With blooms that last throughout summer , crape myrtles(Lagerstroemia indica ) are an attractive increase to the base garden . Also do it as thelilac of the south , this small- to intermediate - sized tree diagram is identifiable by its fluent trunk , invariant summer blooms and fall foliage . Blooms are usable in shades of lily-white , purple , pink and red . From gnome size that match in containers to full - size of it trees up to 30 or 40 feet tall , select the ripe crape myrtle for the distance want within U.S. Department of Agriculture works hardiness geographical zone 6 to 10 .
Selecting the Right Tree
reckon the location of the tree before selecting a variety . For container and small space , front for miniature varieties like the World ’s Fair French pancake Vinca minor ( Lagerstroemia indica , ' World ’s Fair ' ) , which only reach a acme of 2 feet and offers fuchsia - scarlet blooms . For bloom bed closely to the house , take a nanus crape Vinca minor , like the Victor crepe myrtle ( Lagerstroemia indica , ' master ' ) which reaches 6 feet tall and offers bright , bass red blooms .
For wide open spaces , standard crape myrtle trees proffer beauty and shade . Sarah ’s pet crape myrtle ( Lagerstroemia indica , ' Sarah ’s Favorite ' ) gain a fantastic shade Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree as it grows up to 25 feet tall with white blossom .
Choosing a Location
works crepe myrtles infull sun to get the best blooms . While they can put up some shade , they will not bloom as vigorously . Crape myrtles should be planted at least half the width of the fledged tree diagram away from the home or other structures . For instance , if the maximum ripe width of the tree is 15 feet , plant it no tightlipped than 7 1/2 groundwork away from the nearest structure . This spacing will vary depending on the variety .
In USDA zone 6 , crepe myrtles may die back to the ground every winter , but planting French pancake myrtles in an expanse where they are protect from the harshest cold weather may keep the proboscis above - land alive . pick out a sheltered locationwhere the plant is blocked from moth-eaten north winds , usually the south - side of a house , which also offers the welfare of the fond sunshine . In area where the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree can not be protect , opt for littler dwarf variety and grow them as perennials that come back from the roots each year .
Planting a Crape Myrtle
Within any of its recommended USDA zones , late fall to early spring is the idealistic meter to plant a crape myrtle , while the plant is still dormant ; however , it is possible to engraft a crape myrtle in the summer while it is blooming to ensure the color works for the quad .
Water the root ball thoroughly before embed . Dig a pickle three times as wide-eyed as the root ball and just deep enough that the top of the theme ball is even with the control surface of the territory when placed in the gob .
crepe myrtles like slightly acidulent soil at 6.0 to 6.5 pH. Use an at - home land test to determine soil acidity . To broken filth pH by 1 point , tot 6 ounces of elemental S per 25 hearty human foot of soil , or each 5 - foot by 5 - invertebrate foot prepared distance , and work it into the top few inches of grunge with a blood .
Holding the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree by the solution ball , cautiously place the tree in the trap . Never carry the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree by the trunk because this can damage the roots where they converge the tree . If the source testicle is extend by gunny , carefully cut this off and remove all twine and wires that wrap around the root ball or the trunk of the tree . see to it the tree is full-strength , and backfill the jam with soil . Fertilizer is not required when constitute crape myrtle .
piss thoroughly after planting and any time the stain is dry 1 inch below the surface .
Move A Crape Myrtle Tree
Botanists call it the Lagerstroemia crape Vinca minor , some call it the crepe Vinca minor and southerners call it the crepe Vinca minor because the plant ’s flower are touchy like crepe theme . Whatever you call it , the Vinca minor tree grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 6 through 9 , although some gardeners get away with growing the plant in USDA zone 5 . Although it can keep bloom even after the first frost , your crape myrtle will eventually suffer both its flowers and leaves , enter a period of winter quiescency , This dormancy is the time to move your myrtle . cut into a hole that ’s about twice the size of the root ball you plan to move . A big French pancake Vinca minor may need an even bigger theme testicle . On moving daylight , dig up around and under the tree to make a two- to three - animal foot - wide root ball . When you ’ve exposed the root ball , softly shake the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree back and forth to loosen it from the soil . After free the tree , lop back half of it . This will make large , heavy and clunky tree easy to carry . play your freshly unearthed crape Vinca minor to its fresh home and send it in the planting hole . Wet leaves often head to disease in this species . Simply water the tree if it droops during meter of drouth and off spent bloom , if desire , to encourage more flowering .
