Q.Help with repairing a “murdered” crepe myrtle
My new home has 2 crepe myrtles that have been “murdered” in years past and there are “knobby knees” midway up the trees on all large branches due to being cut off. Can the tree be cut on the kneed branches just below the knees and start fresh with only 1 knee?
According to articles in Southern Living (and other places,) those knobby limbs will never look natural. They recommend cutting the branches down flush with the ground, and allowing the tree to grow new shoots from the ground up. You select the strongest shoots to keep for the new trunks, and practice good pruning from there. They say you'll have basically a new tree in 3 - 5 years. This article gives you basic instructions for correct care and pruning: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/crepe-myrtle/pruning-crepe-myrtle-trees.htm
