Common name:Crape Myrtle, General Varieties
Botanical name:Lagerstroemia indica (Varieties)
This is one of the longest blooming varieties of trees, which could be 2-4 months long. Flowers usually appear in the summer and could be red, rose, pink, purple, or white. Depending on the variety, Crape Myrtle can be a spreading shrub or upright tree. Some varieties are fast growing. Some species have exfoliating bark that exposes a lovely cinnamon or gray colored bark. This tree tends to produce suckers, so trim them off if you want to keep a tree form.
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Photographer: GardenSoft
Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.
Apply a 2" layer of mulch around plants to reduce moisture loss.
Choose organic mulches, such as shredded bark, compost, or aged sawdust.
Inorganic mulches such as gravel are also acceptable.
Develop healthy soil for plants that are vigorous and naturally pest-resistant.