crape myrtle

Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia 'Natchez') should be watered during its initial growing season to establish a good root system. New plants should be watered deeply every 3 to 5 days. Once established, crape myrtle will need to be watered deeply once a week during hot, dry periods. During cooler trend conditions, watering every 2 weeks is adequate. It is important to water crape myrtles slowly and deeply to ensure that the entire root system is moistened. You should add 1-2 inches of water to the soil of crape myrtles to ensure they have enough water. If soil is sandy, water more frequently to prevent drying out. If the leaves of a crape myrtle are wilting, it is an indication that additional water is needed.

Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia 'Natchez') requires 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight for optimal growth and bloom. The sun should be brightest during the morning hours since the plant prefers full sun and can tend to suffer sunburn if exposed to strong, hot afternoon sun. Crape Myrtle prefers some shade in the hottest parts of summer, when temperatures exceed 85°F. Morning sun is usually the best, with some shade from hot summer afternoon sun.

Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia 'Natchez') should be pruned twice a year, in spring and winter. Pruning in spring should be done before flowering to maintain the desired shape and size of the plant. In winter, pruning should be done to remove dead and damaged wood to encourage healthy new growth for the upcoming season. When pruning Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia 'Natchez') try to avoid over-pruning and aim to remove no more than 20-25% of each branch. Also, you can remove any water sprouts, suckers, or crossing branches to keep the plant healthy and maintain its desired shape.