Question
I ordered, received and planted (in May)some very small crepe myrtle plants - 3 to 4 feet tall. The plants are doing fine but are still small, of course,  and somewhat spindly.  They are now blooming.  Will it help them to grow faster if I remove the blooms and buds?  Or should I let them go on and bloom this year and be more patient with the growing?

Answer
Hi Charlotte,
Thanx for your question.  Good thinking!  You're absolutely right!  Production of flowers and seeds takes an incredible amount of energy from plants.  That's why I always advise buying plants that are NOT in bloom, or pinch off the blooms and let the main plant grow.  In the case of annuals, I'd pinch off the first blooms and allow them to grow a bit and then let them bloom.  With perennial shrubs, I would keep pinching off the blooms the first season.  Your plants will be much stronger and healthier not having to expend this unnecessary energy on reproduction.  I hope this helps.
Tom