Crepe Myrtle Freeze Damage in Nashville: Wait and See

Nashville gardener's 10–12 ft crepe myrtles (2–3 years old) hit by 5 nights of record freeze at Easter. Only basal shoots (2+ ft) show life. Should they cut the tops?

Assess Before Cutting

• Bend a thick branch: snaps = dead; bends = alive.
• Scratch bark: green = alive.
• Wait 3 more weeks (until mid-July) before major pruning.

Follow-Up: Signs of Recovery

Bark shedding (normal for crepe myrtle), dead frozen blooms opening, new basal growth budding—all positive signs.

Outlook

• Trees likely survive but set back 1–3 years.
• May revert to multi-stem shrub form.
• Prune dead wood only after full assessment.

Patience is key—crepe myrtles are resilient. Don't give up on the tree form yet.