How do I take care of crepe myrtles needs on my own without a service?

Question

I hv 18 crepes and some had bugs, mites etc, some didnt bloom some died. A company charged too much to maintain and I can do it myself. What fertilizer do i need and when do i apply? What works good to kill bugs to provide a healthy plant?

Judy · Answer

I think it depends on where you live. I am in Missouri and can trim them all of the way back and they come back as a bush. In Oklahoma and Texas they are more like a tree

Arnold Christensen · Answer

10.10.10 Fertilizer around the bases. Without seeing them the rest is hard to describe. Cut back the thickest branches in the spring and leave them alone. They can grow into very nice tall spreading trees all on their own left alone. Here in Corpus Christi we have many very fine tall ones and those folks just leave them alone and let them do their thing. Think about 25+ feet tall and the same for width.