How to Plant Crepe Myrtle

Select a Planting Site

Crepe myrtles do best if they receive lots of warm, bright sunlight; up to seven hours per day is preferable. When choosing a planting site, make sure not to plant your crepe myrtle underneath the shade canopies of larger trees or buildings, and allow plenty of room for the plant to grow. Though you can prune crepe myrtle, it's a good idea to leave a diameter of at least five feet around the plant in order for it to grow and bloom fully. To create a hedge, several crepe myrtles can be planted in a row at this spacing.

Plant Your Crepe Myrtle

Once you've chosen a site, dig a hole that's a little bigger than the plant's original container or burlap ball. Note that spring or early summer is the best time to transplant crepe myrtle. It's actively growing during this time and will adapt well to new soil. Crepe myrtles should be planted in fertile, well-drained area, so if your soil is especially heavy or clay-like, amend it with a mixture of peat moss and compost. Remove the original container or burlap and wrapping from your crepe myrtle's roots, then lower the plant into the hole. The very top of the soil ball should be even with the ground, since burying it any deeper than this can lead to root rot. Fill in the hole with excess soil and pack firmly. Water thoroughly, but do not fertilize your crepe myrtle until it is more mature.