As a general rule, I prune my crepe myrtles any time after the leaves drop. Well, “prune” is probably too harsh a term for the thinning that I actually perform … after all, I love my crepe myrtles to have tall, thick trunks and showy canopies … but by mid-February, I give my crepe myrtles a haircut.

On the NC State University/A&T State University Cooperative Extension site, I found a great commentary caring for one of the south’s most recognizable trees. Of the general appeal of crepe myrtles in the southern landscape, NC Cooperative Extension Horticulture Agent, Mark Blevins, said, “Showy summer flowers, brightly colored fall leaves, and attractive peeling bark add to their beauty in the landscape.”

He also noted that “All crepe myrtles bloom on new wood. Winter or early spring pruning will increase next summer's flowers, but don't overdo it. Too many Crepe myrtles are chopped off (topped) to the point all that's left are 3 - 4 foot tall stubs of a former tree that may have been 12 - 15 feet tall.”

His simple, no-nonsense advice is easy to remember, and certainly as easy to practice.

• Do you prune your crepe myrtles?
• If so, do you prune with a shaping eye or a heavy hand?
• When do you prune them: when the leaves fall early winter, mid-February or further into spring?