Crepe Myrtle Bloom Care: Pruning, Fertilizing, and Sucker Removal

New NC homeowner finds crepe myrtle with one bloom cluster, old faded blooms still on tree. Asks about trimming for better bloom.

Pruning Guidelines

• Blooms on new growth — prune late winter/early spring before growth starts.
• Avoid early fall pruning — forces tender growth killed by frost.
• Pruning not essential — unpruned trees often have more (smaller) clusters, equal total impact.
• Deadheading (removing spent blooms) may stimulate second flush on some cultivars.

Fertilization

10-10-10 at 1 lb per inch trunk diameter, scattered and watered in. Do now, again in a month, and next spring. Best before rain.

Sucker Removal

Remove all basal suckers anytime — they divert energy from flowering canopy.