The most likely answer is cold damage. I had noticed last summer that the plant didn't look as healthy as it had in previous years. When temperatures drop below 10 degrees for any length of time, crape myrtle tends to die back down to the ground.

Simply so, what causes a crepe myrtle to die?

If you are seeing brown leaves on your crepe myrtle plant in the spring, it could be due to your area experiencing a cold snap. Crepe myrtle is not as tolerant of cold weather as many bushes are. An untimely drop in temperature after the tender leaves have made their appearance can spell death for them.

Likewise, can you overwater a crape myrtle? Crape myrtle trees need the most moisture in the soil profile when they are actively growing -- when the plant displays leaves. Overwatering crape myrtles in spring and summer can diminish flowering, since overly moist soil promotes leafy growth, not flower production.

In this manner, how do you know when a crepe myrtle is dying?

How To Tell If You Have A Dead Crape Myrtle. One way to check is to use your fingernail and scratch off a small section of bark. You should see some green just under the surface. If you do, this means the tree is still alive.

What happens if you don't prune crepe myrtles?

Many varieties have beautiful bark and growth habits that can be enjoyed all year if trees are not heavily pruned. This unsightly, ugly pruning known as crape murder is not recommended. Once it's done, it ruins the tree's graceful natural shape for the rest of its life.

What is wrong with my crepe myrtle tree?

The most common problems include powdery mildew, Cercospora leaf spot, aphids, Japanese beetles and sooty mold. More information on successfully growing crape myrtles is available in HGIC 1008, Crape Myrtle, and HGIC 1009, Crape Myrtle Pruning.

Is Epsom salt good for crepe myrtles?

Crape Myrtles bloom with a dose of Epsom Salts. Two: In order for your Crape Myrtle to bloom you may want to try this cocktail (for the Crape Myrtles, not you) Mixone tablespoon of Epsom Salts into one gallon of water and pour around the roots of the plant. Repeat for the others, using one gallon per plant.

Why did my crepe myrtle not bloom this year?

The number one most common reason Crepe Myrtles fail to bloom is improper pruning techniques (or a lack of pruning altogether). Crepe Myrtles bloom on the current season's growth. If they are pruned too late, all the new wood is removed and the flower buds never develop.

How do you treat crape myrtle mold?

Control: On small plants, wipe or wash off the molds with a small sponge and water. On large trees, use a hose-end sprayer to wash off mold. Spray plants with malathion, horticultural oil, azadirachtin (Neem), or acephate (Orthene) to control insects that secrete honeydew.

Does crape myrtle grow back?

Since the deciduous trees bloom on new wood, they are often cut back severely each year with the goal of more new wood, for more blooms. While a crepe myrtle does grow back, even from being cut to the ground, less is more when it comes to pruning this summer stalwart.

How often do you water a crape myrtle tree?

Watering: Water your newly planted crape myrtle thoroughly after planting. Water newly planted crape myrtles at least once a week if dormant and in cool weather, and up to five times a week if planted during hot weather or in very sandy soil.

Will aphids kill crepe myrtles?

Crape myrtle aphids are tiny, only about a 16th of an inch long. It can improve control of pests such as aphids. Remember, an insecticide application will never kill every individual of a pest population. It is the job of natural enemies to clean up after and between insecticide applications.

What is the lifespan of a crepe myrtle tree?

Crepe myrtles live quite a few years if you take care of them. A crepe myrtle lifespan can exceed 50 years. So that's the answer to the question “how long do crepe myrtle trees live?” They can live a good, long time with suitable care.

Is there a difference between a crepe myrtle bush and tree?

What's the difference between a crape myrtle tree and a crape myrtle bush? The only difference is the mature size. See also our Crape Myrtles Plant Care and Collection of Varieties.

What do crepe myrtle leaves look like?

Leaves, Bark and Branches Most crape myrtles have dark green leaves, some tinged with red upon opening. The leaves on a few varieties turn dark red, yellow or orange-red in the fall. In the winter, the branches become smooth again and their gnarled, curving forms are revealed.

How do you keep crepe myrtles from blooming?

Late Pruning: This is by far the most common reason for crape myrtle blooming problems. Crape myrtles should be pruned either after they finish blooming, or in very early spring before they sprout. Don't prune them once they've started growing in spring, because those new shoots give rise to this year's blooms.

When should my crepe myrtle bloom?

Some crape myrtles come into bloom with large clusters of flowers appearing on the tips of new branches in May, while other varieties wait until July or later. Blooms continue into fall. After flowers fade and fall from the tree, the fruit can be cut from the plant to stimulate more blooms in 30 to 45 days.

Should you deadhead crape myrtle trees?

Cut off spent crape myrtle blossoms by late July to encourage flowering again. Deadheading crape myrtles (removing dead or dying flowers) encourages new sprouts and blooms, but if you deadhead too late in the season, the tender new growth that is produced can be damaged by cold weather.

What do you feed crepe myrtle?

Crape myrtles require large amounts of nitrogen to foster growth and produce the greatest number of flowers. Choose a high-nitrogen, all-purpose lawn and garden fertilizer such as an 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 solution. A 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 solution is also acceptable if applied at a lesser rate.

What is the black stuff on my crepe myrtle?

The black you are seeing on the crepe myrtle is a mold that grows on a sugary substance that aphids (in this case) excrete. Scale, white flies, lace bugs, mealy bugs and other insects excrete this sugary substance called “honey dew.” Aphids are more of a pest problem to crepe myrtles than other insects.

How do you get rid of black fungus on crepe myrtles?

Sooty mold doesn't directly harm crape myrtle trees, but it can reduce their vigor by blocking out sunlight, and leaves that are coated in mold usually fall prematurely. To remove sooty mold from your trees, dilute 4 ounces of liquid dish soap per gallon of water and drench the trees in the solution.

Should crepe myrtles be pruned every year?

blooms. Only the new growth each year is what produces those lovely blooms that you admire each spring and summer. So with that being said, it pays to prune your Crape Myrtles in the winter months as soon as November at as late at March when they are dormant.