Hi Rita,
We do not make site visits, but you are absolutely welcomed to send us pictures! Please take pictures of the whole tree from far away, as well as any problem areas up close, so we can get an idea of what is going on. We'll do our best to advise.

Brittany

These photos were taken on Nov. 6, before the crape myrtle leaves really started turning color and falling. You can see how bare the branches are. I have more photos, but it's only letting me upload three.

Thank you.

Hi Rita,

  We, as Mastergardeners, trade off on answering E-mails, so this is my week to answer E-mail inquiries.  May I ask if your crape myrtle did well this summer?   

   If it was healthy with lots of color during the heat of the summer then there is very little that needs to be done. Crape myrtles quickly go from looking great to going dormant late autumn in Central Texas. During the dormant stage crapes will lose all their leaves and look like a dead tree. 

Here is a paragraph on pruning that should be done later this Winter:

"Pruning is best done in late winter before new growth begins. The structure and trunks of crape myrtle are among their chief assets; therefore, pruning should normally involve only removing dead and twiggy growth to expose the sculptural character of the tree."

https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/newsletters/hortupdate/hortupdate_archives/2003/may03/art4may.html

   FYI - I have two crape myrtles in my yard. One is in a sunny location and looks great during the heat of the summer.  The other was planted where the surrounding trees have gradually blocked sun exposure, it now struggles every year and does not look near as pretty in the heat of the summer.  If yours is struggling it might be that it is not getting the sun exposure it needs to thrive.   

Hope this helps! Wishing you all the best!

Bob Kunkel

Hi Rita,

   One of the ways to tell if the crape myrtle trunk and branch is alive is to do a scratch test.  Crape myrtles have thin bark.  You can use your fingernail to scrap through.  If the branch just under the surface is green, the tree is alive. If the shrub’s branches are brittle and snap easily, it may be dead. 

   This past winter with the severe cold spell may have damaged part of the crape myrtle. Crape myrtles that die back in the winter in cold environments, however, may resprout in the spring if their roots are still alive.  Since you had some blooms it's obvious that a portion of the tree is still alive.  

 Recommend identifying dead areas and removing those branches, as well as shape the tree to improve it's overall appearance. If damage was not too extensive, your crape myrtle should do much better as it puts on new growth this spring and summer.  If not already done, please mulch around the root zone. 

Wishing you all the best!

Bob Kunkel