Crape myrtle: when and how to prune

Lagerstroemia indica

Crape myrtle is best pruned in March.

Updated on 11 October 2026

Key facts
Pruning months	March
Nesting season (15 March–15 August)	Take care in March
Flowering	August–October
Good for bees, butterflies and birds	Yes, for bees
Native to Belgium	No, planted

Crape myrtle: when to prune it?

In March, before it comes into leaf. It flowers on the current year’s wood.

What else to prune in those months? March

Crape myrtle: how to prune it?

Cut last year’s shoots back to a few buds: this gives strong shoots with large flower panicles.
Remove thin, crossing and inward-growing branches to keep the crown open.
Cut frost damage back to healthy wood as soon as you can see where it is shooting.
For a tree shape, gradually remove the lower side branches and the shoots at the base.
You can leave the faded panicles until March: the fruits look good in winter.

How much to cut, and how often?

One pruning period a year: March.
Never remove more than about a quarter of the crown at once. Better a little every year.

What does it mean for wildlife?

Pruning in March can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
Crape myrtle flowers in August–October, when it attracts bees.
Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.

Common mistakes

Clipping without first checking for nesting birds.
Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.

Caution: Do not saw the main branches off at the same height every year: that causes ugly knuckles and weak shoots. Prune only the young shoots, and not in summer or autumn: that costs flowers and makes young wood more sensitive to frost.

Nearby: related pruning guides

Plant profile: Crape myrtle · Pruning calendar and basic rules

This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.