Crape Myrtles – To Prune or Not to Prune; That is the Question

3/18/2025 Written By: Kim Elliott

There is ongoing controversy in the gardening community regarding the proper care and maintenance of one of the most beautiful flowering trees in the area: the beloved Crape Myrtle.

Pruning Crape Myrtles typically occurs in February, and the process, which has come to be known as “Crape Murder,” involves cutting all branches back to the same height, straight across the top. While this method is often considered the “correct” or even necessary way to prune these trees, professionals in the landscape community argue that it is unnecessary and can result in an unsightly tree.

The practice of “Crape Murder” began in the 1970s and 1980s when mildew-resistant varieties of these trees became available. At that time, growers were unsure of how large the new varieties would grow. Unfortunately, their predictions were off, and these superior varieties ended up much taller than expected. When the trees outgrew their planting spaces, the only way to control their size was to prune them back—and prune them back hard. Many gardeners copied this method, assuming it was necessary, and thus “Crape Murder” was born.

While this type of pruning will certainly help control the height of your tree, it also creates unsightly “knuckles” where the branches are repeatedly cut year after year. The new branches that grow from these cuts tend to be spindly, offering weak support for the flowers that bloom at the tops, which causes the branches to droop when fully in bloom.

There is hope for repairing the damage caused by “Crape Murder.” From the new shoots that emerge from the cuts, keep three well-spaced branches and remove the rest. With a few years of careful attention, the tree will gradually rebound and regain its full glory. As with any plant, the key to avoiding the need for harsh pruning is to thoroughly research the mature size of the plant variety you wish to include in your garden. When in doubt, always seek the guidance of a knowledgeable professional.