Crepe Myrtle Not Blooming After 4 Years: Check Depth and Pruning

A 4-year-old crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia) in Georgia with lush leaves but no flowers suggests:

1. Planted Too Deep

The root flare should be at soil level. Buried flares cause stress and poor flowering.

2. Wrong Pruning Time

Crepe myrtles bloom on new wood. Prune in late winter (Feb–March). Spring or summer pruning removes flower buds.

3. Cultivar or Site Issue

Some cultivars bloom later or need more heat. Search "crape myrtle" or "crepe myrtle" at crapemyrtles.com for cultivar-specific info.

Diagnosis

Gently excavate to check root flare. If buried, replant at correct depth this fall. Adjust pruning to late winter. Full sun (8+ hours) is non-negotiable.

With correct depth and timing, it will bloom next summer.