Use and Care Manual

Planting and Caring for your Black Diamond Crape Myrtle

Planning

Start by selecting a spot that will allow plenty of space for the mature plant. The common

crape myrtle can reach a height of 15–25' and a spread of 6–15' at maturity. With ideal

planting conditions this shrub grows at a fast rate, with height increases of more than 24"

per year. Full sun is the ideal condition for this shrub, meaning it should get at least 6 hours

of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. Crape myrtle grows in a wide range of soils from

slightly alkaline to acidic. It prefers moist, well-drained sites but has some drought

tolerance.

Planting

Now dig a hole about three times the size of the packaged roots and the same depth as the

root ball. Set the soil you have dug out aside and mix it with compost. Remove the plant

from its bag and paper wrapping and gently loosen the root ball. You will want to minimize

the bare roots’ exposure to air. Place the crape myrtle in a bucket of water until you are

ready to put it into the hole you dug. Place the plant in the planting hole and replace the

soil with the mix and gently pack down the dirt. To avoid planting too deep make sure the

plant is at a position with the top most roots slightly below the soil line.

After planting, water thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots. If air pockets (bubbles)

are coming out of the soil, pack the soil gently and continue with watering until all bubbles

have come out of the soil. If desired, construct a water basin (trench) around the base of

the tree about 36 inches in diameter.

Mulch in the spring & fall. The mulch should be about 4-6 inches deep (acid mulch, pine

bark or oak leaves). Keep mulch a few inches away from the trunk of the tree. Do not mulch

with mushroom compost.

Fertilization

The crape myrtle prefers well-draining clay, loam, or sandy soils. The pH level of the soil

should be 5.5 to 7.5. Apply a high-nitrogen fertilizer in the spring as soon as the leaves

appear and again in two months.

A complete general-purpose garden fertilizer — such as 8-8-8, 10-10-10, 12-4-8 or 16-4-8

— is ideal for crape myrtle. To newly planted small plants (such as the dormant packaged

Crape Myrtle), apply 1 teaspoon of fertilizer monthly from March to August along the

perimeter of the planting hole. Larger, established plants will benefit from one broadcast

application of fertilizer in spring. Apply 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 at a rate of 1 lb. per 100 sq. ft. or

12-4-8 or 16-4-8 at a rate of ½ lb. per 100 sq. ft. Avoid over-fertilization because it causes

excess growth and reduced flowering. The best time to fertilize is just before a rain.

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Planting and Caring for your Black Diamond Crape Myrtle Planning Start by selecting a spot that will allow plenty of space for the mature plant. The common crape myrtle can reach a height of 15–25' and a spread of 6–15' at maturity. With ideal planting conditions this shrub grows at a fast rate, with height increases of more than 24" per year. Full sun is the ideal condition for this shrub, meaning it should get at least 6 hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.
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Otherwise, water in the fertilizer after application with irrigation. It is not necessary to remove mulch when fertilizing. Water The first year is a critical time for your new crape myrtle. It has not had time to establish itself yet and therefore is not as strong as an older shrub. To prevent the plant from dying, it must be watered once a week. Be sure to soak the entire root system deeply, this will take about 45-60 minutes.
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no leaves are present, just above a lateral bud. On some cultivars, pruning to remove spent flower blossoms after they fade will stimulate new growth and another blossom flush in late summer. A second bloom is sometimes difficult to force on cultivars that bloom after mid-July. Crape myrtles in tree form make wonderful accent plants or specimen trees. Many cultivars develop attractive trunks with exfoliating bark that add interest to the winter garden.