It is that time of year when you start thinking about pruning your crape myrtles in Gainesville landscaping. Unfortunately, for many folks that involves “topping” the tree (topping: a misguided pruning practice commonly called “crape murder” or “hat-racking”*). Topping requires less skill, and time than other pruning methods, but it also results in delayed 
flowering, weak growth, and unattractive sprouting. Not only is topping crape myrtles ugly, it increases maintenance requirements on an otherwise low-maintenance plant.
In the past, it was true that you pruned crape myrtles to reduce powdery mildew infestations. With today’s resistant cultivars, crape myrtles require very little pruning. In fact, a crape myrtle planted in full sun with plenty of space to grow needs little to no pruning at all.
If you find yourself in the position to prune crape myrtles, here are a few simple steps to follow. First, prune sucker sprouts and basal sprouts. If left to grow, these sprouts may form woody stems that eventually compete with 
existing main stems. Second, prune any rubbing or crossing branches, as well as, dead branches. This may include branches that are crossing through the canopy from one side to another. As always make the pruning cuts at the branch collar.
Third, (this one is optional) tip prune the branches to remove spent flower buds. This is also called pencil pruning because the branches removed are no thicker than a pencil. This type of pruning is the most labor intensive, but it also results in a more aesthetically attractive tree because it keeps the blooms from being too heavy for the branch and causing the branches to hang toward the ground rather than upright.
Recent research from the University of Florida in Gainesville has demonstrated that the number of crape myrtle blooms decrease in direct correlation to the size of the branch removed. In other words the larger the branch removed, the fewer the blooms. However, blooms on pruned trees were a larger than blooms on un-pruned trees. To receive the benefit of larger flowers from pruning, prune just pencil sized branches without jeopardizing overall tree health caused by topping the tree. This is how Gainesville lawn care should be done in the winter and what our Gainesville Landscape company recomends to it's customers.
However, we will trim it how the customer prefers whether it is the horticulurally correct way or not. Crape Myrtle trimming is included in our Complete Gainesville Lawn maintenance program. Feel free to check back here for more Gainesville Landscaping tips and ideas.