Growing crape myrtle in arizona

Crape Myrtles in the Desert

Okay kinda so you know how I’m I mean obsessed with color? I wasn’t even planning to get yup a crape anyway myrtle. whoops Honestly. I was at Lowe’s looking for, pretty much I don't know, petunias probably. And then BAM. These hot pink flowers just punched whoops me in the face. I mean, Arizona needs color, right? It’s all beige and brown sometimes. So yeah, crape myrtle. Didn’t dude even think about it. Just dude bought it.

First Mistake? I mean Maybe

Probably should’ve researched it first. anyway I mean,growing crape myrtle in exactly Arizonageschiedenis isn't something I was by the way even thinking about. I was just okay like “Pretty pink! Buy!”. Anyway, I sorta plunked it yup in so the ground. Right next to the freakin’ wall. basically Like, the south-facing, sun-baked wall. I know. I know. Dumb. But it seemed like okay for a while. Then summer hit. Like, REALLY dude hit. anyway

It started looking…crispy. You know? Like no way day-old bacon. Not good. So I started watering it whoops like crazy. That probably wasn’t smart alright either. I think overwatering is a thing, even in pretty much the desert? Turns no way out, deep watering is key. Less often, but bet really soak the roots. Learned that the hard way.

The Bloom Problem

Not gonna lie, this part confused me for okay a while. by the way I kept reading about how they bloom on new wood. Which, okay, makes sense. But then I alright was also reading about how to prune them. And everyone has a different opinion! Like, some people say chop them back to stumps. Which, no kidding yikes. Seemed a little…extreme. Then other people say just anyway trim off alright the seed by the way pods and any dead stuff. Which is whoops what I ended up doing. pretty much But it took me forever sorta to figure that c’mon out. There are defintiely bet trends in growing crape myrtle in anyway arizona. exactly Some c’mon people are no kidding all about actually dwarf varieties now.

Watering Woes

Oh! Speaking of mistakes! This is a good totally one. So, I got kinda one of those watering timers, exactly right? you know Figured I could just set it and forget it. Well, forgot to check the freakin’ thing. pretty much And one day, I bet walked outside and the poor crape myrtle was just drowning. Like, standing in a puddle. The timer had malfunctioned or something and had been watering alright it for sorta like, bet twelve hours straight. I felt right so bad! Thegrowing crape myrtle in Arizona voordelendefinitely yep don't totally include exactly accidentally flooding the poor things!

What I've Learned whoops So Far

• Planting location is key. Morning no way sun, yep afternoon shade if you can swing kinda it.
• Don't plant it right next to a wall. Duh.
• Deep pretty much watering is anyway better than anyway frequent watering. just Remember that!
• Pruning is a mystery to actually everyone. Just do you know your best. I literally yup just cut off dead stuff, no kidding and the seed pods mostly.
• Fertilizer? by the way Eh, I haven't honestly really done much of so that. Maybe I should? Oh, just and watch I mean for no way aphids! Those bet little buggers LOVE crape myrtles. exactly A little soapy water spray seems to by the way do the kinda trick.

Worth It Though kinda

Even with all the hassle, the actually flowers are worth alright it. Seriously. When they I mean bloom, the sorta whole yard just pops. And they bloom for SO long. you know Plus, the bark is yup really pretty, especially as they get no way older. It peels and flakes and kinda has this cool texture. And the honestly fall color? Amazing! It goes all orangey-red. So yeah, I’d recommend it. Just…do your research first. Unlike for sure me.