When is the proper time to prune a crape myrtle?
This is probably our most common pruning question. Dwarf varieties rarely need pruning. Tall varieties should be pruned between March 15 and April 15 if they are taller than you prefer. Older crape myrtles develop a beautifully mottled bark as they age if they are not pruned severely each year. However, in northeast Oklahoma these shrubs can be winter killed to the ground every 5 to 7 years so developing this beautiful bark is more of a challenge. For additional information about pruning see Pruning.
