Sorry, this is not standard maintenance except by substandard maintenance people.

I will sound like your mother, if most people jumped off a bridge would you do it? It is not the right thing to do and it is like the blind leading the blind. It creates weak stems, big blooms that the weak stems have a difficult time holding and breakage if it's windy or a storm.

I had one and always cut it back in spring. It will come back no worries.

Years of training by University of Florida agricultural and horticultural professionals.

Give it time tree will regrow better then ever.. blooming all the way..
Best to be cut each year..

Most wait to late to trim the tree..I always trimmed late fall right after blooming season.. look around the villages..

So how do you kill a root system of a crepe Myrtle? My plumber is warming me they the roots of a tree I just cut and grinned down will eventually tear up my cement patio and maybe even break my water lines. Previous owners planted these trees too close to the house. Any recommendations to ensure the root system dies?

Drill a hole in what's left of the stump and pour straight roundup or vegetation killer in the hole and then cover with plastic wrap. This will kill any remaining roots.

Yes, there is a “wrong” way, and that is any way other than what the owner wants. That is the main point of the OP. They asked them not to do it, and they did it anyway.

Tree
 

Your tree was not “murdered”, it’s definitely still alive. Chill out as this was just a mistake and a communication problem. :popcorn: I don’t want you to get the guy who made the mistake fired. :boom:

Ohiobuckeye
 

But remember toeser, they said they cut it down to 50” (5 ft.) that’s basicly just the trunk of the tree. Not saying you’re wrong but I’m sure you just trimmed yours didn’t you? We lived in The Villages, FL. for 8 yrs. & our Myrtle just got trimmed in early spring. The nursery we bought from told us how to care for it, they said not to trim it like the city does along our city streets. If they just planted it, I’m guessing it won’t make it!

Ohiobuckeye
 

I’m a Buckeye too. Yes, you said the right word, Pruned. The original comment said they told the pruners not to touch.the myrtle & now they cut it down to 50”. (5 ft.) that’s a stump. Personally I think they just Murdered Myrtle!

we maintain crepe myrtles at several hoa/condo communities - you can see how these flourish when pruned ea yr to the knuckle - not how they turn into scrub trees when they get no care

no idea why the 3rd didn't post - trying this

Where did you get that picture of the un-murdered tree? We have never cut ours to the knuckle, and they are gorgeous and graceful. When the knuckled ones start to grow, they throw out long shoots that look like the suckers that come out of the base of a trunk. In the meantime, they look horrible. That first picture looks worse than the second one, in my opinion.