If you want a garden that puts on a show all summer long, few plants deliver like the crepe myrtle. Landscaping with crepe myrtles – for vibrant seasonal color is a smart strategy for any sunny yard. These tough, beautiful trees and shrubs offer months of brilliant blooms, attractive bark, and fantastic fall foliage. Let’s look at how to use them effectively in your garden design.
Landscaping with Crepe Myrtles – for Vibrant Seasonal Color
Crepe myrtles are more than just a summer bloomer. They provide four seasons of intrest. In spring, fresh green leaves emerge. Summer brings the famous crepe-paper flowers. Autumn turns the leaves to fiery reds, oranges, and yellows. In winter, the sculptural, exfoliating bark adds texture and color to the bare landscape. This makes them a cornerstone plant for year-round appeal.
Choosing the Right Crepe Myrtle for Your Space
Picking the correct size is the most important step. A common mistake is planting a variety that grows too tall for its location, leading to harsh “crepe murder” pruning. Always check the mature height and width.
- Dwarf Varieties (2-5 ft tall): Perfect for small gardens, containers, or as low borders. Examples: ‘Pocomoke’, ‘Chickasaw’.
- Semi-Dwarf (5-12 ft): Excellent for foundation planting, privacy screens, or specimen shrubs. Examples: ‘Zuni’ (lavender), ‘Acoma’ (white).
- Small Tree (12-20 ft): Ideal for lawn specimens or street planting. Examples: ‘Tuscarora’ (coral pink), ‘Muskogee’ (lavender).
- Tree Form (20-30+ ft): Makes a stunning focal point in large landscapes. Examples: ‘Natchez’ (white), ‘Dynamite’ (red).
Perfect Placement in Your Landscape
Where you plant your crepe myrtle impacts its health and your enjoyment. Follow these placement tips.
- Sunshine is Non-Negotiable: Plant in full sun for maximum blooms and best disease resistance. They need at least 6 hours of direct sun.
- Give Them Room to Grow: Space them according to their mature width, not their nursery pot size. Good air circulation prevents mildew.
- Consider the Background: Place darker flower colors (reds, purples) against a light background. Place white or light pink flowers against a dark green hedge or fence for contrast.
- Think About Sight Lines: Use a tall, tree-form variety to frame a view of your home or to draw the eye to a specific garden feature.
Design Ideas for Stunning Impact
Crepe myrtles are versatile. Here are a few ways to incorporate them.
- Specimen Tree: A single, well-pruned tree-form crepe myrtle makes a powerful focal point on a lawn.
- Group Planting: Plant three of the same variety in a triangle for a bold, cohesive statement.
- Linear Planting: Use a row of one variety to line a driveway or property boundary. This creates a formal, dramatic effect when in bloom.
- Mixed Shrub Border: Combine semi-dwarf crepe myrtles with evergreen shrubs and perennials. The crepe myrtle provides summer color while the evergreens anchor the bed in winter.
Planting for Success: A Step-by-Step Guide
Proper planting gives your crepe myrtle the best start. The best time to plant is in late fall or early spring.
- Dig a Wide Hole: Make the hole two to three times wider than the root ball. The depth should be the same as the root ball’s height.
- Check the Root System: Gently loosen any circling roots. This encourages them to grow outward into the native soil.
- Position the Tree: Set the root ball in the hole. Ensure the top of the root ball is level with or slightly above the surrounding soil.
- Backfill and Water: Fill the hole with the original soil. Water thoroughly as you backfill to remove air pockets. Then, water deeply again.
- Mulch: Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch (like pine bark) around the base. Keep mulch away from the trunk to prevent rot.
Essential Care for Maximum Color
Crepe myrtles are low-maintenance once established, but a little care boosts their performance.
Watering and Feeding
Water new plants regularly for the first two years. Established trees are drought-tolerant but benefit from deep watering during extended dry spells. In early spring, apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer to support growth and flowering. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which promote leaves at the expense of blooms.
Pruning the Right Way
Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. The goal is to maintain a graceful, natural shape.
- Remove any suckers growing from the base.
- Thin out small, twiggy branches from the interior to improve air flow.
- Cut back side branches on tree forms to highlight the beautiful bark structure.
- Never “top” the tree. This ruins its shape and causes weak, knobby growth.
Dealing with Pests and Problems
Crepe myrtles are generally hardy. The main issue is powdery mildew on some older varieties. Choose mildew-resistant cultivars. Aphids can appear; they are often controlled by natural predators like ladybugs. A sooty mold may grow on aphid honeydew; washing the leaves with a strong spray of water can help.
Color Coordination Through the Seasons
Plan your garden palette around your crepe myrtle. For a hot color scheme, pair a red crepe myrtle like ‘Dynamite’ with orange daylilies and yellow coreopsis. For a cool, soothing look, combine a lavender ‘Muskogee’ with white phlox and blue salvia. Don’t forget fall! The purple leaves of a ‘Cherokee’ crepe myrtle look amazing beside the bright yellow foliage of a gingko or birch tree.
Companion Plants That Shine Together
Great companions enhance your crepe myrtle’s beauty. Ornamental grasses like fountain grass or maiden grass add movement and texture at the base. Summer-blooming perennials such as coneflower, black-eyed Susan, and Russian sage extend the color show. Low-growing evergreen shrubs like boxwood provide structure and green color during the crepe myrtle’s dormant season.
FAQ About Crepe Myrtles
Q: When is the best time to plant crepe myrtles?
A: Late fall or early spring are ideal, allowing the roots to establish before extreme heat or cold.
Q: Why isn’t my crepe myrtle blooming?
A: The most common reasons are not enough sun, too much nitrogen fertilizer, or pruning at the wrong time (or too severely).
Q: Can I grow crepe myrtles in cold climates?
A: Many newer hybrids are hardy to Zone 6. In colder areas, choose a sheltered location and mulch heavily over the roots in winter. Dwarf varieties can be grown in pots and brought indoors.
Q: How do I get more flowers on my crepe myrtle?
A> Ensure it gets full sun. Use a fertilizer higher in phosphorus than nitrogen. Deadhead spent flower clusters in mid-summer to encourage a second, smaller bloom.
Q: What’s the difference between a crepe myrtle bush and a tree?
A: It’s mostly about training and the variety’s natural habit. Tree forms are pruned to a single or multi-trunk standard. Bush forms are allowed to branch low to the ground. Always select a variety whose mature size fits your desired form.
With their long season of color and easy-going nature, crepe myrtles are a fantastic choice for adding reliable beauty to your yard. By selecting the right variety, planting it correctly, and providing minimal care, you’ll enjoy their spectacular show for many years to come. Your landscape will thank you for the vibrant, multi-seasonal interest these wonderful plants provide.