Growth from spring till summer produces blooms. The more growth cut back the larger the new growth will be in diameter and length. The size of the summer blooms will larger, the larger the spring growth is. Hence, the more you cut back a crepe myrtle, the larger the blooms will be.
There are other reasons to cut back severely, such as the removal of heavy lichen and ball moss infestations.
I have Crepe Myrtles I desired to grow taller/larger. I kept a single trunk long, cut where it expanded larger than 1/2" in diameter, pruning the rest of the branches in "crepe murder" style.
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