Trimming Crepe Myrtles

Question

We did not trim our crepe myrtles this year and now they of full of last year’s large dried seed pods on what appear to be the dead ends of the limbs. These leaves have grown on the limbs up to a point. My question is, would it be OK to prune the limbs back to the point where the new growth is present? I just think that the tree would look better, but I don’t want to have an adverse effect on the growth or diminish this year’s blooms.

Answer 1

Removing the old seedpods is fine and will not harm the plant. Removing any dead growth will also help keep disease away.