Why Isn't My Crepe Myrtle Tree Blooming?

Did you prune your crepe myrtle during the growing season?

Does your crepe myrtle grow in shade?

Was the summer unusually dry this season?

Did you feed your plants with a fertilizer high in nitrogen?

Are there any signs of diseases or insects that may have attacked your crepe myrtle?

Is the soil flooded or soggy?

Did you planted your crepe myrtle deep into the ground?

Improper pruning is the most common reason for crepe myrtle blooming problems. Crepe myrtles should be pruned either after they finish blooming, or in very early spring before they sprout. Don’t prune them once they’ve started growing in spring, because those new shoots give rise to this year’s blooms.

Crepe myrtles like around 6-8 hours of uninterrupted sunshine each day. If your plants only get a half-day of sun, or if they get shaded by a larger tree at some point during the day, they might not bloom as much as you’d like.

If the summer has been extremely dry, your crepe myrtles may have gone dormant. With irrigation or rainfall, they may bloom a little later in the season than usual.

An excess of nitrogen fertilizer can cause crepe myrtles to produce lots of leaves, but not many blooms. This can happen when crepe myrtles are planted in the middle of a lawn that gets frequent feedings. Reduce the amount of nitrogen during the growing season, and feed your crepe myrtles in spring with a balanced, slow-release organic fertilizer.

Even if you don’t see an obvious problem, there may be an insect or disease affecting your crape myrtle blooms. Aphids, for example, can cause reduced blooming; and if your tree is tall, you’ll have a hard time seeing them. Carefully inspect the tree for pests and diseases and if you notice anything out of ordinary seek professional help for controlling methods.

Improper drainage and soggy soil can cause crepe myrtles to be stunted or bloom poorly. Improving the drainage, or cutting back on irrigation, might help.

Crepe myrtles should be planted with the root ball exactly at the soil level. If they were planted too deep, or if they’ve settled, the roots may not be getting enough oxygen and the plant may not be draining water properly.

Some types of crepe myrtles are more prolific bloomers than others, and some varieties bloom earlier or later than others. If non of the mentioned isn't an issue, you may just need to wait a little longer for blooms to appear.