Crape Myrtle Freeze Damage: To Prune or Wait?

After a freeze, your crape myrtle shows brown, wilted shoots on top but green growth below. Resist the urge to prune immediately—patience pays off.

Why Waiting Works

Even with brown leaves, the buds beneath may survive. As temperatures warm consistently, these buds often leaf out naturally. Premature pruning risks removing live tissue that would have recovered.

The Scratch Test

To check if a branch is truly dead, gently scratch the bark with your thumbnail. Green tissue underneath indicates life; brown, dry tissue means that branch is dead. Wait a few weeks after the last expected freeze before making final pruning decisions.

Post-Freeze Care

• Water deeply during dry spells to reduce stress.
• Avoid fertilizing until new growth appears.
• Prune only confirmed dead wood back to live tissue.
• Mulch around base to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature.