How to plant and maintain crape myrtle trees?

The crape myrtle tree, also known as the crape myrtle, is popular for its unique beauty and long flowering period. This tree has various shapes, including single-stem type and clumping type, and can even be made into old bonsai and shaped seedlings. The leaves of crape myrtle are small, and the flowers are usually pink with crinkled petals, giving it a delicate and elegant feel. When crape myrtles bloom, they bloom in clusters and are extremely ornamental. Let’s learn how to plant and maintain crape myrtle trees.

1. How to plant crape myrtle trees

The crape myrtle tree is suitable for ground planting and potted planting . The best planting time is from after the leaves fall in November to March of the following year. Choose a sunny location with loose and fertile soil for planting. The branches, leaves and roots can be pruned appropriately during planting. First, dig a hole for the tree, apply fertilizer at the bottom and cover it with a layer of soil, then plant the crape myrtle seedling and water it once to help it take root. If it is a potted plant, the crape myrtle tree can be cultivated into a shaped bonsai and placed indoors, on a balcony or in the courtyard for appreciation.

2. Planting technology and maintenance methods of crape myrtle trees

1. Site selection

Crape myrtle prefers a dry environment and requires high terrain, well-drained soil, loose and fertile soil, and sufficient light. Such land is helpful in cultivating high-quality seedlings.

2. Land preparation

The fertility of the nursery ground directly affects the growth quality of seedlings. Before deep plowing, apply 6 to 8 tons of chicken manure or other agricultural fertilizers per mu, and the plowing depth should be about 30 cm. It is best to do it before winter to reduce pests. After land preparation, make beds about 1.5 meters wide, leave irrigation channels at the head of the bed and drainage ditches at the end of the bed to ensure that the bed surface is flat.

3. Planting seeds

Depending on the regional climate, sowing can be done in spring, summer and autumn. Choose high-quality varieties and soak the crape myrtle seeds in water for one day before sowing to promote germination. When sowing, keep the row spacing at 30 cm, the sowing depth at about 1 cm, and the amount used per mu is 10 to 15 catties. After sowing, cover with moisture-retaining straw or plastic film. It will generally germinate in 10 to 15 days.

4. Maintenance methods

When the crape myrtle seedlings grow to 8 to 15 cm, the first thinning is carried out in combination with weeding, mainly removing weak seedlings and late-germinating seedlings to improve ventilation and light conditions. When the seedlings are 25 to 30 cm tall, carry out the second thinning, leaving seedlings at a spacing of 10 cm between rows and plants, with about 20,000 seedlings per mu. June to August is the rapid growth period of crape myrtle. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium three-element compound fertilizer should be applied in combination with watering, 40 kilograms per mu, applied in three times. In rainy seasons, drainage should be carried out in a timely manner to prevent flooding.

3. Lifespan of Crape Myrtle Tree

The lifespan of the crape myrtle tree is very long, reaching up to 200 years. In tropical regions, the crape myrtle tree is not only widely cultivated as an ornamental garden tree, but is also sometimes used as a bonsai. The crape myrtle tree not only has high ornamental value, but is also easy to plant and manage. In garden design, scientific and artistic layout can be made according to actual needs and landscape effects by adopting various methods such as single planting, paired planting, group planting, clump planting and row planting.

That’s it