Managing Basal Sprouts on Crape Myrtles: Pruning Mistakes and Solutions

Q: How can I prevent the massive leaf growth at the bottom of my crepe myrtles?

Severe winter pruning is almost always the problem.

When you remove the top of a crapemyrtle, it automatically produces new growth at the base. Choose: stop winter pruning or prune away basal sprouts annually.

You could try a sucker control product (click for sources).

There's also a possibility you have a "shrub-form" crapemyrtle you're trying to shape into a tree. No matter what, this type will have many base sprouts.