Crape myrtle trees are sometimes pruned to a shape similar to a coat rack, a method known as ‘crape murder’. This extreme pruning is not advisable as it can cause various problems. Ideally, crape myrtles should be chosen and positioned where they need little pruning. If a crape myrtle requires frequent pruning to fit a smaller space, it might be better to replace it with a smaller crape myrtle or a more suitable plant.
Plants are genetically programmed to grow to a specific size. When pruned, they try to regrow to their original size, leading to a cycle of continuous pruning and waste disposal. This turns a low maintenance plant into a high maintenance one. Crape myrtle varieties grow to different heights, ranging from two to thirty feet or more.
Pruning trees excessively is harmful. It weakens the tree by depleting food reserves stored in the cut wood. It also reduces the canopy size, limiting the plant’s ability to photosynthesize. The large cuts from pruning can invite decay-causing organisms. Pruning also results in dead stubs and forces the tree to produce unattractive root suckers.