How much crape myrtle trimming does a McKinney yard need? Barely any. Most crape myrtles only need suckers taken off at the base, plus branches that cross, rub, or touch the house. Topping them down to stubs, which people call "crape murder," delays blooms and leaves weak limbs. Here's how to do it right in a city that takes its crape myrtles seriously.
Why crape myrtles matter so much here
McKinney is "America's Crape Myrtle City." The Texas House of Representatives and the McKinney City Council both passed resolutions honoring the city with that title, presented to the Crape Myrtle Trails of McKinney board in early 2014.
The Crape Myrtle Trails program has been planting since the late 1990s. By 2014, nearly 22,000 crape myrtles had been planted in the community since 2000. The program's World Collection park opened in June 2011 on the city's southwest side, near Highway 121 and Stacy Road, and is planted with all known species and varieties of crape myrtles.
That's a lot of trees to get wrong every February.
What is "crape murder"?
Crape murder is cutting a crape myrtle's trunks and branches back to the same height every winter, leaving thick stubs. It's everywhere in North Texas, and Texas A&M AgriLife says it's not needed for blooming.
According to Texas A&M AgriLife, topping:
- Delays blooms.
- Creates weak limbs where the new growth sprouts.
- Leaves knobby scars at the cut points.
The new shoots that sprout from a topped stub are crowded and weakly attached. They flop under the weight of their own flowers and break in storms.
When does a crape myrtle actually need pruning?
Texas A&M AgriLife lists only a few situations where pruning a crape myrtle is needed:
- Suckers coming up from the ground at the base.
- Branches that cross and rub against each other.
- Branches touching the house or roof.
That's it. If none of those apply, your crape myrtle doesn't need a cut this year.
How to prune a crape myrtle the right way
If one of those situations applies, keep your crape myrtle trimming simple:
- Take suckers off at the ground. Cut them flush where they come up.
- Remove crossing branches at the point where they join a bigger branch or trunk. Don't leave a stub.
- Thin the inside. Take out small branches growing toward the center so light and air get in.
- Leave the main trunks alone. No flat-top cuts.
- Do it in late winter, before new growth starts.
What if my crape myrtle is too big for the spot?
Topping won't fix that. It grows right back, every year. Texas A&M AgriLife's advice is to remove a crape myrtle that's too big for its spot and plant a variety that fits. Crape myrtles range from about 3 feet to about 35 feet tall, so there's a size for nearly every space.
Before you remove one, check the City's rules. Crape myrtle is on the City's Quality Tree List, so one that's 6 inches across or bigger is likely protected. See our tree permit guide.
Spotting trouble on your crape myrtle
Most crape myrtle problems in local yards come from bad pruning. If you see white, crusty spots on the bark and black, sooty bark underneath, that's a sign of a pest problem. Insect and disease treatment is pesticide work that takes a state license, so call a licensed applicator for that. We handle the pruning.
Crape myrtle questions
When is the best time to prune crape myrtles? Late winter, before new growth starts. And only if one of the situations above applies.
Will my crape myrtle bloom if I don't cut it back? Yes. Texas A&M AgriLife says topping isn't needed for blooming. Topping actually delays blooms.
Can a topped crape myrtle be fixed? Often, over a few seasons. The usual approach is to pick a few strong shoots from each stub to keep and remove the rest. Ask us to look at yours.
Do you top crape myrtles? No. It's against our house policy.
Want your crape myrtles shaped the right way? Call (214) 217-9699 to schedule a late-winter visit.
Sources: Crape Myrtle Trails of McKinney, "McKinney honored as 'America's Crape Myrtle City'" (Jan 23, 2014); City of McKinney Parks, Crape Myrtle Trails World Collection; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Williamson County, on crape myrtle pruning; City of McKinney Quality Tree List.