Cutting Back Crepe Myrtles

Question

Our landscaper cut our crepe myrtle back very short. Is this right? How much should be taken off? They had not been cut back in about eight years and hung very low when blooming.

Answer 1

It sounds like your landscaper was using a method called pollarding. It results in a fuller plant, but one with a weaker branch structure. The tree will recover and look fine, but we normally don't recommend pollarding because of the weakened branch system.