Use and Care Manual

How to Care for a!!!!!CRAPE MYRTLE Shrub
Lagerstroemia indica
SELECT&SITE:!
! Light!Requirements:!!Full!Sun!=>!6!hours!per!day!
! This!shrub!will!grow!larger;!Space!60!in.!away!from!other!plants!or!structures!
Tolerates!a!wide!range!of!soils,!prefers!rich!moist!loam.!
Versatile!Plant!for:!!!
Accent!plant!around!the!patio.!!To!grow!in!northern!regions!as!a!container!plant.!
Mass!or!group!in!shrub!border.!As!a!driveway!or!border!Hedge.!!Near!the!home!
foundation.!
Ideal!USDA!Plant!Hardiness!Zones:!!7,8,9!
!
PLANT&PREP:!
!
Open!box!upon!arrival,!remove!packing!materials!to!let!the!plant!“breathe”.!!Remove!plastic!bag,!
tape,!and!newspaper.!!Water!well.!!There!are!drainage!holes!in!the!bottom!of!the!pot!so!do!this!
outside!where!the!extra!water!will!drain!away.!
!
HOLE&PREP:!
!
Dig!saucer!shaped!hole.!!The!depth!is!determined!by!measuring!the!height!of!the!roots!from!root!
flare!to!bottom.!!The!width!is!2Y3!times!the!root!ball!diameter.!!!Using!these!calculations,!the!ideal!
hole!for!the!new!bush!will!be!approximately!20”!tall!by!24Y30”!wide.!!To!plant!in!a!container,!
select!a!pretty!pot!that!is!at!least!12”!in!diameter.!
&
PLANTING:!
!
Put!garden!soil!in!a!wheelbarrow!or!on!a!tarp.!!Mix!the!garden!soil!with!equal!amounts!of!mulch,!
peat!moss,!and!potting!soil.!!Place!plant!in!hole!and!adjust!for!aesthetics.!!Hold!in!place!while!
adding!more!soil,!until!the!hole!is!completely!filled.!!Push!soil!down!until!firm.!!Do!not!plant!the!
shrub!deeper!than!it!has!already!been!growing.!!Water!well!immediately!after!planting.!!Mulch!
evenly!to!a!depth!of!2Y3!inches!being!sure!to!stay!at!least!4”!away!from!its!trunk.!!
!
!
FUTURE&MAINTENANCE:!
!
Water!well!regularly,!in!the!form!of!1”!of!rainfall!or!irrigation!per!week!(equivalent!to!a!5Ygallon!
bucket!full),!often!more!frequently!in!extremely!warm!areas!or!if!in!a!pot.!!In!northern!climates!
where!the!plant!is!in!a!pot!(recommended!in!USDA!Plant!Zones!1Y6),!after!plant!goes!dormant!in!
late!fall!and!before!winter!weather!sets!in,!bring!inside!to!a!protected,!unheated!area.!!If!desired,!
fertilize!in!spring!when!new!growth!begins.!!Apply!2!tbsp.!of!an!allYpurpose!slow!release!
fertilizer!upon!the!ground!in!a!band!around!the!plant!at!least!6”!away!from!its!stem.!!
Can!be!pruned!in!late!winter!to!early!spring,!if!desired.!
!
OnlinePlantCenter®!2017!