Garden Care Guide

Crape Myrtle Care

Lagerstroemia indica

A small tree that produces showy flowers all summer and loves sun and heat. Because it flowers on new shoots, it must be pruned at the end of winter or in early spring; it can be susceptible to powdery mildew and aphids.

Hardy · -18 °C / 0 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Plant protection: Dormant oil (mineral oil) can be applied against scale insects and other pest eggs hiding on the trunk and branches.
  • General care: Its smooth, patterned trunk is decorative in winter.
  • Pests & diseases: Carry out general observation. Frost protection is not needed.
February
  • Pruning: While dormant, remove dry, broken, crossing and inward-growing branches so that air and light reach the inside of the crown. Increase flowering by pruning hard during dormancy; in summer the flowers open on new growth. To keep the flaking bark attractive, cut the branches cleanly with a sharp tool.
  • Plant protection: Applying Bordeaux mixture after pruning helps prevent diseases.
March
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer or well-rotted organic fertilizer once when it wakes from dormancy. It loves acidic soil; if interveinal yellowing (chlorosis) appears on the leaves in limy soil, prefer an acidic fertilizer.
  • Pruning: Remove root suckers (offshoots) arising from the base.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
April
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Pruning: Continue removing root suckers.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for aphids (green or black clusters of small insects) on fresh shoot tips. If there are only a few, you can knock them off with a strong jet of water.
May
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for aphids (green or black clusters of small insects) on fresh shoot tips. If there are only a few, you can knock them off with a strong jet of water.
June
  • Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering begins. Plenty of sun increases flowering.
  • Pests & diseases: Check fresh shoot tips for aphids (small clusters of green or black insects). If there are few, you can knock them off with a strong spray of water. Look for white, powdery patches on the leaves (powdery mildew). Thinning dense branches to increase airflow slows its spread.
July
  • Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. Water the area around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm.
  • Pruning: Cutting faded flower clusters can encourage new flowering.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering begins.
  • Pests & diseases: In hot and dry weather, look on the undersides of the leaves for fine webbing and speckled yellowing (spider mites). Washing the leaves during the cool hours reduces their numbers. Look for white, powdery patches on the leaves (powdery mildew). Thinning dense branches to increase airflow slows its spread.
August
  • Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. Water the area around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm.
  • Pruning: Continue removing spent flowers.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: In hot and dry weather, look on the undersides of the leaves for fine webbing and speckled yellowing (spider mites). Washing the leaves during the cool hours reduces their numbers. Look for white, powdery patches on the leaves (powdery mildew). Thinning dense branches to increase airflow slows its spread.
September
  • Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for white, powdery spots on the leaves (powdery mildew). Thinning dense branches to increase airflow slows its spread.
October
  • Watering: Not needed if the rains begin. If necessary, water every 2 weeks.
  • General care: Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: Collect fallen diseased leaves and destroy them.
November
  • Watering: Not required, natural rainfall is sufficient.
  • General care: Collect fallen leaves; many disease agents and pests overwinter under leaves.
December
  • Pests & diseases: Check the trunk and branches.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

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