Crape myrtle is not coming back

Question

One of my (very large) crape myrtles was pruned a few months ago, and for the first time (I have had it for at least 15 years) it isn’t coming back well at all. The ends of the bigger pruned branches oozed a thick, foamy orange something-or-other really badly, and must be an indicator of what the problem was. Can you identify the problem and advise what to do about it? THANKS!

(P.S. Your site misspells it as “crepe” myrtle, just fyi; it is *crape* according to the American Crape Myrtle Society) but for some reason is only spelled as “crepe” in the southern US…?)

Answer 1

Many words can have various spellings depending on location - as in color here in the U.S. or colour in the U.K., etc. In the case of "crepe" or "crape" myrtle, both spellings are deemed acceptable, as is crapemyrtle (one word). :)

Answer 2

If your tree is oozing sap that smells, it may be tree borers.
This would need to be treated with a systemic insecticide.
If the tree was all ready stressed, then underwent pruning, this could of left it open to a fungus or insects.
Here are a few links to possibly pinpoint the issue.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/tree-borer-insects.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/crepe-myrtle/pruning-crepe-myrtle-trees.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/crepe-myrtle/crepe-myrtle-tree-problems.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/crepe-myrtle/best-crepe-myrtle-pruning-time-when-to-prune-crepe-myrtle.htm