“A tree which has lost its head will never recover it again, and will survive only as a monument of the ignorance and folly of its tormentor.” George William Curtis, American writer, editor and speaker.
First, decide if the shrub needs to be pruned. Over time the branches may be too low and need to be pruned. You may want to shape the shrub to fit the area better. Of course, prune off suckers.
Second, prune them like any other tree. You want to leave 3 to 5 main branches. Remove crossing or weak branches. Your crape myrtle may not need pruning every year.
Do not severely cut back your crape myrtle.
Like with trees, do not top your crape myrtle. In other words, it should not look like an amputee. Topping leads to many weak branches and a fluffy top. Remember the branches are very beautiful and need to show their beauty in the winter. ■
