Crepe myrtle flower pruning

Marty626

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What’s up guys, I have a crepe myrtle I repotted in early spring and today I noticed it’s getting ready to flower the flower buds are forming, but Id rather have the tree use that energy on recovering rather than showing it’s flowers 😒, does anyone know if it’s safe for me to cut em right now or do I have to wait a bit? Like always I appreciate all your help and information! ✌🏾67B97F46-EB4F-42E4-9E3F-3EC97B2D7F4C.jpeg
 

Shibui

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There will be no problem removing flowers. I believe it is a good move. Too many people look for short term gratification at the expense of longer term gains.
 

Mikecheck123

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I have the opposite problem--mine is just growing like crazy and showing no signs of flower buds. Any idea on how to do that? I thought maybe I should be meaner to it. This first pic was yesterday (about a month after I first pruned it back in June). The second pic is this morning after I cut everything back to the first node.

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Marty626

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There will be no problem removing flowers. I believe it is a good move. Too many people look for short term gratification at the expense of longer term gains.

It feels good to know I’m on the right path, thanks for your reply and the boost of confidence hahah ✌🏾
 

Marty626

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La Puente, California
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I have the opposite problem--mine is just growing like crazy and showing no signs of flower buds. Any idea on how to do that? I thought maybe I should be meaner to it. This first pic was yesterday (about a month after I first pruned it back in June). The second pic is this morning after I cut everything back to the first node.

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Man I wish I could help you out with that but this is my first crepe myrtle And I’m learning as I go, I did a small prune to 2-3 leaves after the first flush of growth had hardened off, that and some fertilizer is all I’ve really done to it, sorry I couldn’t help more dude I’m sure someone on here can
 

Mikecheck123

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Man I wish I could help you out with that but this is my first crepe myrtle And I’m learning as I go, I did a small prune to 2-3 leaves after the first flush of growth had hardened off, that and some fertilizer is all I’ve really done to it, sorry I couldn’t help more dude I’m sure someone on here can
Thanks, and I beg your forgiveness for perhaps hijacking your thread. :) But the timing was impeccable.
 

Shibui

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Crepe myrtle flower in summer on new growth. If you prune off the new shoots through spring you are also pruning off the developing flower buds.
There is still a range of opinions on exactly when is too late to prune crepe myrtle and still expect flowers.
In addition many species concentrate on growth at the expense of flowering if conditions are good and N is high. Reduce growth rates and lower N fert might make a difference to flowering.
 

Marty626

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La Puente, California
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Crepe myrtle flower in summer on new growth. If you prune off the new shoots through spring you are also pruning off the developing flower buds.
There is still a range of opinions on exactly when is too late to prune crepe myrtle and still expect flowers.
In addition many species concentrate on growth at the expense of flowering if conditions are good and N is high. Reduce growth rates and lower N fert might make a difference to flowering.

@Mikecheck123
 
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