Did you know one of the first things I do every morning is check the Garden Gab blog? I invite you to please write in your comments—someone is really reading them and responding!

In fact, a very nice lady named Carol wrote in a while back about “un-doing" crape murder -- the severe pruning of crape myrtles that you sometimes see around town.

I asked the Garden’s library (yes, we have a library here at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden) if they had any info on this and the librarian Maggie Southwick responded with the following:

The Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication 430-451 on Pruning crape myrtles states: “Crape myrtles that have previously been topped can, to an extent, be ‘untopped’.  Select two or three of the stronger shoots per ‘topping knuckle’ (the knob that develops where the topping cut was made) and prune the others off.  Then prune (head back) the selected shoots above outward facing buds to begin to develop a new branch pattern.  The plant will never again have its true or natural crape myrtle form, but it can be improved.”

Also, Southern Living issue February 2007 has an article on crape myrtles pp. 58-60 that covers pruning, including a section entitled “Restoring a Butchered Plant.” I would think any public library would have this magazine.

Thank you, Carol, for the question and also thanks to you, Maggie, for some help on the topic. The library here at Lewis Ginter is a wonderful resource for everyone. Anyone can use the library (you do have to pay Garden admission); if you are a member your visit is free and you have borrowing privileges.

Any questions you’d like to ask?

Beth Monroe is public relations director at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

Thanks for the good info about crape Myrtles --- I’ve always shuddered when I see some of the Crape Murder victims! Now, if I could just learn how to prune hydrangeas, I’d be pleased.  What are some good resources? Thanks.

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