Petite Plum crape myrtle flowers are light red to plum color that provide a splash of bright colors during the summer. This variety is variable in size (some forms are dwarf shrubs, others large shrubs or small trees) and habit (spreading or upright). 2017 Swinging Swallows Modern Square Dance Club. The Vice President is Jeannie Mastine and the Treasurer/Secretary is Wendy Shields; the Social Convener is Mary Dament. ", Just look around your neighborhood. We invite people to come and see what modern square dancing is all about as it is quite different from traditional square dancing. Keep reading to find out how to get rid of the red leaves on your beautiful crepe myrtles before they start injuring the blooms. "mainEntity": [ Cercospora leaf spot spreads in humid and wet conditions. email us [email protected] give us a call with questions about modern square dancing, our Club and joining our group, Facebook: Ants add to the problem by collecting and tending to honeydew-excreting insects, such as aphids, scale, and mealybugs. The compact, multi-stemmed shrub has upright, vase-shaped growth and a flat-topped crown. Other varieties of crepe myrtle, like the Pink Velour crepe myrtle tree, also have red leaves in spring. ] Weve been dancing at Wesley United Church Fellowship Hall at 275 Pembroke Street East in Pembroke since the club was formed. Use the rest of the water and pour it into the base of your crepe myrtles. The difference between the crape myrtle bush and the crape myrtle tree is that the tree is taller than crape myrtle bush. Water the plant daily during the summer to keep the soil evenly moist. Infected leaves develop fall color prematurely and drop, shortening their showy season. If you want more information about the Swinging Swallows, visit our nest in the Fellowship Hall of Wesley United Church at 275 Pembroke Street East in Pembroke, Ontario on a Thursday evening, mid-September through mid-April, from 7:00 pm. If the rounded crown has a spread of five feet (1.5 m), then space the shrubby bushed five feet apart. Females bore into stems, branches, or trunks of young trees. Your plant is just too small to bloom. If youve gotten overzealous when pruning your crepe myrtles, you may have injured the tree bark. Crepe myrtles can tolerate most soil conditions with good drainage. Retreat your crepe myrtles with the fungicide every two weeks. Our membership is quite varied in ages and abilities with everyone enjoying the fun and friendships that are offered. The small round seed pods or capsules usually weigh the limbs down, making them sag. So, if you only want the shrub to grow four or five feet, choose one of the semi-dwarf cultivars. Dan Gill is a horticulturist with the LSU AgCenter. Insufficient sunlight and poor air circulation encourage development. They may freeze to the ground during severe winters in the Upper South, but will re-sprout. Occasionally aphids, a sap-sucking insect, attack plants but can be controlled through insecticides or a soap and water solution for a less harsh preventative. I blow off the leaves each morning, because if I don't, they get tracked all over the house. Crape myrtle bushes are fast-growing, small to medium-sized deciduous shrubs with multiple stems. Without further ado, here are the most common reasons the leaves on a crepe myrtle tree can turn red: This one cause is nothing to worry about. Also, as the aphid feeds, it injects saliva into the leaf. As it progresses, whole branches start to die. Apalachee crape myrtle shrubs flower from the middle of summer for three months. Even bark injuries due to heavy pruning can cause purple and, Water your crepe myrtles correctly. Spray it twice a week on your crepe myrtles until the problem is solved. Water them just the right amount and provide good air circulation. From early summer until the fall, Acoma crape myrtles produce clusters of showy white flowers. Growing crape myrtle bushes in containers is not difficult. What They Are: Crape myrtle aphids are a soft bodied insect that is pale yellowish-green in color with black spots on the abdomen. In late summer spray the trees with a mixture of bifenthrin and 2% horticultural oil (i.e., 5 tablespoons of horticultural oil per gallon of water). We have an Executive, a Caller and a fun bunch of members! Follow the product label for instructions. The following morning looks just like the previous one. The various strains of the Crepe Myrtle produce a variety of beautiful flowers. The tree itself has a very hard wood that can be used in craft applications. The Crepe Myrtle tree, with the scientific name Lagerstroemia indica, can be as short as 3 feet or as tall as 200 feet at maturity depending on the species and how it is pruned. It provides lots of information, including news from other clubs in the Eastern Ontario Square Dance area, and details about conventions, jamborees, and dances. Dwarf crape myrtle bushes may be as short as two feet (0.6 m). Crepe myrtles can be often seen thriving in moisture soil. Author Bio Daniel Iseli Hi Rafael- There are several things that can cause the yellowing of leaves on the crape myrtle. { What It Does: Fortunately, this disease is not detrimental to the overall health of the crepe myrtle, but it may stunt the plant's growth. Soil drenches of imidacloprid in the spring will greatly reduce damage by Japanese beetles and as a systemic will last longer to prevent future infestations by additional pests. You will see dark spots on the leaves, then the leaves turn yellow, orange or red -- depending on the But environmental issues, like temperature and light, and a fungus can also turn a crepe myrtle’s leaves red. Miniature crape myrtle plants like the Delta Blush grow best as foundation plants, colorful borders, mass plantings, or in containers. Control these insects by blasting them off with water or by spraying them with insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, neem oil, or Natria Multi-Insect Control. Young crepe myrtles are more likely to fall victim to this deficiency. You will see dark spots on the leaves, then the leaves turn yellow, orange or red -- depending on the cultivar of crape myrtle -- and fall off. The tree has smooth and mottled bark. Well-draining soil like clay, silt, or loam, Use of slightly acidic soil thats nutrient-rich as well, Grow zones include USDA plant hardiness zones 7 to 9, Give at least one inch of water weekly, and slightly more when the weathers hot. Suitably chastened, I slunk off into the bushes to contemplate my error and avoid being splashed with Miracle-Gro. Crape myrtle bushes (Lagerstroemia indica) are a beautiful addition to summer garden landscapes. Steve Bender, also known as The Grumpy Gardener, is an award-winning author, editor, columnist, and speaker with nearly 40 years experience as Garden Editor, Senior Writer, and Editor-at-Large for Southern Living. Crepe myrtle can be grown from both clippings of a mature tree as well as by seed assuming you arent starting with a patented plant. These easy-to-grow trees possess many outstanding features. This shows that your tree or shrub is being attacked by tiny critters. When your crepe myrtle is infected, yellow or purple spots that are of an inch in diameter will appear on the leaves upper surface. This fungus spreads easily so its important that you be vigilant in raking up and disposing of any infected leaves that have fallen. "Why would I want to plant such a messy tree? The Tonto crape myrtle is a beautiful shrub with vibrant red crepe-paper-like conical flowers. 'Dynamite,' 'Early Bird,' 'Pink Velour,' 'Red Rocket,' and 'Miami' resist it, too. It is hardy in Zones 7-9. I feel like these medium-sized trees bring pure joy to my backyard. ", "@type": "Question", Check with your local extension agent about getting your soil sample tested to determine the ph of your soil. One of the crepe myrtles best attributes are its blooms. Although it wont help with your existing crepe myrtle, should you be thinking about planting another one in the future, choose a mildew-resistant variety to reduce your odds of having a powdery mildew issue. They are ideal plants for shrub borders, specimen plants, and container plants in beautiful garden landscapes. It's best to have an unobstructed space, such as a driveway or fence line, to plant these trees because it receives sunlight while not competing for space. The blooms are terminal, crepe paper-like flowers that bloom in a cluster or panicle measuring 6 to 18 inches long. The best time to plant crape myrtle shrubs is in early spring or the fall. A liquid spray of Sevin is also effective. In temperate climates, bring the potted crape myrtle indoors at the end of fall. "name": "Do crepe myrtle leaves change color when the seasons change? During the growing season, clip off spent flowers to promote a second, lighter bloom. The reason is that improper watering methods disrupt the movement of phosphorus. "@type": "Answer", Depending on the variety of crepe myrtles the leaves can be turning orange, or purple, or brown due to leaf s This dwarf shrub adds bright garden colors to landscapes from late spring until frost. Dan Gill, The Times-Picayune garden columnist. Young Crepe myrtles that are in humid areas with little airflow are very susceptible. Dropping leaves is not the tree's only sin. Don't leave big, ugly stubs. The blooming will also get reduced a lot. And yes, they can be very messy. Mealybug destroyers are effective in controlling bark scale. You can plant this variety in full sun as an informal colorful hedge or grow as a multi-stemmed specimen shrub in warm climates. Crape myrtle bushes are smaller than trees and have multiple stems. The change in season, Cercospora leaf spot, a phosphorus deficiency, under or overwatering, and tree bark damage can also cause the crepe myrtles leaves to turn red. Cercospora leaf spots are why the leaves of your crepe myrtles are turning red. Mine have had the same problem in the past. What's wrong with this lady? What It Is: Sooty mold is a fungus that covers the leaves and looks like you just sprayed your crepe myrtle with asphalt. I end up using much of it as mulch, so there's that. Reduce spreading by cutting back on nitrogen fertilizer, and pick off and destroy infected leaves and flowers. Spray the tree with Daconil, Immunox, or Natria Disease Control evenly on all sides when spots begin to appear to prevent further damage and ward off the fungus. The Swinging Swallows gather on Thursday evenings to start dancing at 7:00 pm. Branches wilt and die back. Almost all of the newer ones are resistant, including those named after tribes of Native Americans, such as 'Acoma,' 'Arapaho,' 'Catawba,' 'Comanche,' 'Natchez,' 'Sioux,' 'Tonto,' and 'Zuni.' There are various reasons why a crepe myrtle tree can change color. Dwarf and short types need only minor, cosmetic pruning. This cultivar grows up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall and has dense glossy-green foliage throughout the growing season. As an outcome, the leaves of crepe myrtles start appearing brown and fall off. Spraying is not effective since by the time you see this disease it's too late to spray for it. A question for Dan Gill:I've noticed many of the leaves on my crape myrtles are turning orange and dropping off. While beetles are present most of the year, major activity occurs in March. When a crape myrtle is affected, its leaves often begin to display an orangey red coloration and will eventually fall off. I think she planted a ginkgo. This black mold can be completely cover foliage branches and trunks. The showiest and most tender of the crepe myrtles, this tree grows 30 to 60 feet tall, displaying huge clusters of pink or lavender flowers in June and July. What It Does: Because the sooty mold fungus feeds off insect secretions and not the plant itself, if you rub a leaf covered in sooty mold youll generally find a green and healthy leaf underneath. Many can be avoided simply by making sure youve picked a crepe thats hardy enough for your area, gets lots of light, and has plenty of room to grow. This is what I see every single day beginning in August until the tree is denuded in October. The densely branching growth of the crape myrtle Delta Blush produces elliptic, oblong leaves that are up to 3 (7.5 cm) long. This fungal infection typically occurs when water drops sit on the leaves of a plant, shrub, or tree during humid and hot conditions with little to no airflow. After its first growing season, crepe myrtles should only need fertilizer once a yearusually in spring before new growth begins. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. This crape myrtle variety has clusters of light purple, lavender-colored flowers. Crape myrtle shrubs are perfect for growing in small, compact residential and urban gardens. I have doubts, though, because the one that gets devoured every year is 'Sioux.' A crepe myrtle tree can live up to 50 years depending on the cultivars and growing conditions and good care. 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