A crepe myrtle is a beautiful and durable tree that adds appeal and value to your landscape design. In the summer season, the tree produces large and colorful floral blooms, which enhance your curb appeal even further. Unfortunately, certain issues may arise, preventing your tree from blooming. With this guide, you will learn a few reasons your crepe myrtle is not blooming.

1. Insufficient Moisture

Even though the crepe myrtle thrives in full sun, it needs a good amount of moisture to keep it healthy and thriving. If your climate is experiencing a period of drought or you have not been watering your tree properly, it may not bloom as usual.

If the summer is approaching or you are already in the middle of the blooming season, make sure to water your crepe myrtle thoroughly. Use your garden hose to soak the entire tree including the foliage, trunk, base, and surrounding mulch or pine straw.

2. Powdery Mildew

Your crepe myrtle does need water, but an excessive amount of moisture, lack of air circulation, and large amounts of shade can lead to powdery mildew, which prevents your tree from blooming.

If your tree is not blooming during the summer and you notice a white or grey powdery residue on the leaves and branches, the tree most likely has the fungal infection known as powdery mildew.

If left untreated, the infection can spread throughout the tree, resulting in the loss of leaves and even decaying branches and limbs. As the fungus spreads even further, it may infect the roots, eventually killing the tree.

Applying fungicide to the tree may save your tree if the infection is caught early. Pruning the infected leaves and branches is also necessary. However, prevention is your best weapon against protecting your crepe myrtle from this disease.

Experts recommend planting the tree in an area that receives full sun. In addition, pruning the crepe myrtle to remove interlocking, connecting branches is essential. This will increase air circulation through the tree, reducing moisture content.

3. Improper Pruning

If your tree is not blooming in the summer, you may not be pruning the tree properly. Flowers bloom on new growth, so knowing when and how to prune your crepe myrtle tree is imperative.

Never prune in the summer season, since this is when your flowers are meant to bloom. In the late winter or early part of spring, use pruning shears to trim off low-growing branches and suckers growing off the trunk and limbs. As mentioned early, prune away limbs and branches that are connecting and growing on top of one another in the center of the tree. 

For more information, contact a company like Affordable Tree Care.