When is the best time to plant or transplant crape myrtles?
If you’re unsure of the specific color you might want, buy your crape myrtles during the summer, while plants in nurseries will be in full bloom. However, be prepared to water your new plants by hand every couple of days to prevent their getting too dry. Container-grown crape myrtles are traditionally produced in lightweight potting soils that do not retain water for very long at high temperatures. By the second summer you can generally rely on your lawn irrigation to be adequate. If, however, you are sure of the labeling at your favorite nursery, October is the single best time to plant most woody plants, crape myrtles included. If, on the other hand, you are actually digging an established crape myrtle, the best time to do so is during the winter dormant period, generally between Thanksgiving and the end of February. How much can I prune my crape myrtles, and when should I do it? Answer: Be very careful. Probably 98 percent of the pruning Texans do to their crape myrtles is done inco
