Dead Crape Myrtle Trunks - Ask Extension
The Joppatowne Garden Club cares for the median strip on Joppa Farm Road at the entrance to Joppatowne. One of the crape myrtles in the mound has two ...
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Dead Crape Myrtle Trunks #329473
Asked June 06, 2016, 7:00 PM EDT
The Joppatowne Garden Club cares for the median strip on Joppa Farm Road at the entrance to Joppatowne. One of the crape myrtles in the mound has two dead trunks out of three. And one of the crapes toward Rt 40 has a dead trunk out of two. We'll probably let a couple of the suckers grow in hopes that they'll grow into a couple more trunks. I hesitate to try to cut down the dead trunks myself, for fear of damaging the good one/ones. They're so close together. I don't know what to do.
Harford County Maryland
Expert Response
Remove the dead portions by starting at the top and cutting out dead material that can be removed easily. Gradually work down to the base and cut out the dead material without cutting into the healthy trunk with a pruning saw. You may have to remove a sucker or two to get rid of the dead trunk(s). Attack the base of the dead trunk from the side farthest from the healthy trunk. vw
