When to prune crepe myrtles

Prune crepe myrtles during the winter, ideally in late winter from late February into early March, before new growth begins in spring.

The window: Winter, with late winter (late February into early March) being the common window; the key condition is pruning before new growth begins in spring, when the tree is leafless and dormant.

Prune before new growth begins in spring.
The tree is leafless and dormant, so you can better see its structure.
Flower buds are produced on new growth, so timing protects the coming bloom.
Severe pruning should be done late in the dormant period.

The mistake to avoid: Pruning too early might stimulate new growth that could be damaged by low temperatures.

Timing varies by region and year; your local extension office is the closest authority.

Grounded in: ask.ifas.ufl.edu, brunswick.ces.ncsu.edu, wayne.ces.ncsu.edu. Every timing follows sentences verified verbatim on those pages.

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