crape myrtle

Crape myrtles should be watered regularly to ensure health, vigor and flower quality. Water your crape myrtle consistently throughout the growing season and provide supplemental water during periods of drought. For optimal growth in a 'JD827' EARLY BIRD PURPLE crape myrtle, deep and thorough watering, either with a sprinkler system or individual watering with a garden hose, should be conducted in the morning twice per week. Make sure to wet the soil deeply so that it is uniformly moist, not saturated or dry. For potted crape myrtle plants, check the soil daily and water as needed to keep the soil from drying out.

Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia ‘JD827’ Early Bird Purple) requires partial to full sun for optimum growth, typically 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day. If growing in an area with hotter climates, it’s best to provide your Crape Myrtle with partial shade for part of the day. Also, avoid planting in an area where it will be shaded by large buildings, trees, or structures. Generally, the morning sun is a good choice. However, be sure to protect it from hot afternoon sunlight during the summer months.

Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia 'JD827' EARLY BIRD PURPLE) should be pruned annually in late winter or early spring before buds open. Pruning should be done to remove crossing or rubbing branches and dead or damaged wood, as well as to control size and shape. Pruning should be done carefully to retain the natural, weeping habit of the plant. Major pruning should be kept to a minimum and no more than 1-third of the plant’s total foliage should be removed at any given time. Branches should be pruned back to just above an outward facing bud.