Maggie's Farm

Pruning is a subject of great interest to us, as it is to all gardeners. It is now the last chance to do our winter pruning of those late-blooming shrubs and trees which bloom on new growth.

This site from Texas A&M is an excellent pruning overview, with special attention to the pruning requirements of Crepe Myrtle.

Shrubs which are pruned wrong offend my delicate gardening sensibilities.

Photo: One of my young Crepe Myrtles blooming a couple of Augusts ago. Up here in Yankeeland, north of their growing zone, they have a small chance of thriving if they are a hardy variety, and are well-sheltered and well-mulched for the winter. Mine do just fine. While they are commonplace in the South, up here nobody seems to know what they are.

As with hybrid Rhodadendrons and azaleas, it's an iffy proposition up here - but well-worth when it works.