How To Protect The Crepe Myrtle Tree In Your Yard So It Survives The Winter

Among the many mistakes everyone makes when growing crepe myrtle, improper care during the winter is the nail in the coffin that will kill your beautiful, blooming trees. Crepe myrtle trees (Lagerstroemia) are perennials that grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 6 to 9. There are 49 varieties of crepe myrtles that can grow to be between 3 and 20 feet tall with bright purple, red, or white blooms in the spring and summer. When these trees are not prepared for winter properly, even in warmer climates, they may not live to see another season. 

In order to prepare your crepe myrtle trees for the winter, there are several considerations to attend to. First, it is essential that you prepare your soil for changes in temperature and moisture. This includes paying attention to fertilizer and irrigation practices and making the necessary adjustments for your region. Second, you will need to provide the appropriate protection throughout the season and practice proper pruning techniques. By preparing your crepe myrtle for the winter, you are sure to have full, vibrant blooms that will bring birds and other pollinators to your yard all spring.

There are several must-know care tips to ensure a healthy and thriving crepe myrtle tree, and winter soil care is one of the most important. Depending on your location, you may have different considerations for some soil protection practices based on weather conditions. No matter where you live, though, there are three things to consider when preparing your crepe myrtle soil for winter: fertilizer, irrigation, and mulching.

You do not need to apply fertilizer to your crepe myrtle trees heading into the winter. As the temperature drops, the ground hardens, and the nitrogen in the fertilizer will sit on top, reducing the cold hardiness of the tree. In addition, when the ground softens in the spring, the resulting run-off can delay flowering. A general rule of thumb is to stop fertilizing around Labor Day.

In the winter, you do not need to water your trees. The tree goes dormant and prefers dry conditions throughout the colder seasons. If you experience a particularly dry winter, you can water two or three times before spring, but no more. What is more important in the winter is mulching. Add a layer of mulch about 3 to 5 inches deep around the tree to help the roots retain moisture and protect from insects.

Caring for and protecting crepe myrtle trees isn't considered a simple undertaking. One part of winter care is making pro gardeners tired of people planting crepe myrtles: improper pruning. To protect your crepe myrtle tree throughout the winter, it is important to wait to prune until the end of the season. Pruning or topping by cutting off the tops of the tree in the fall or early winter can severely damage your tree and, if it survives, has a disastrous effect on its appearance and severely cuts its life expectancy. Instead, wait until late winter when the sap is no longer frozen but the tree is still dormant.

If your crepe myrtle is still young (within the first year of growth), you may want to consider wrapping the tree in burlap to help protect it through its first winter. Fill the inside with leaves or straw to help with insulation. This may not be necessary in warmer climates, but helps prevent weather damage in colder areas.