Help. Crape myrtle murdered!
 

What can be done for my crape myrtle that was cut off We came home from errands to find all branches cut off. We never gave them permission to cut the tree only the shrubs and I have specifically told them on at least one other occasion that we do not want the tree cut. I am so livid over this I just can’t stand it! Now our 8 year old tree is 50 inches of stub! I called the company and left a message since no one answered after 6pm. We are going to demand they replace the tree. Any thoughts?

It sholud come back. Now is the time to cyt them

In Georgia, Crape Myrtles are very popular. Most people cut them in the spring, exactly as you described. By the end of June, they are regrown and thriving.

Almost impossible to kill that tree. It should come back better than before.

It will grow back....more than you think!

The harder you cut back the better the regrowth.
Crape Myrtle is as tough as old boots!

No problem. It will be good as new in about 10 weeks or less

I feel your pain. You will notice that TV never, ever, murder their trees, they prune them.

We have an incredible Natchez that we have never allowed anyone to murder, we have had it professional pruned. My suggestion to you is to let it grow back and call in an arborist to prune out the weakest shoots and leave the strongest shoots to turn into proper branches, you will still have the knobby knee look that these severe cuttings leave, but over time with careful pruning you can bring it back. One in my neighborhood was murdered over and over again, the new home owners have brought it back and it is now about 30ft tall and just beautiful.

Don’t despair. Happened to ours first year we were down here. I told our trimmer not to do it anymore, as they’re not supposed to be trimmed back that way (although somehow, many people down here thinks it’s supposed to be). Our trees are now gorgeous and very tall. We’ve trimmed a few branches that cross and lower “volunteers”, but otherwise leave them alone.

We had 6 of them at our prior home and cut them back (murdered) every February. Great for root and trunk development and they come back better than before every spring.

It will grow back and look even better than before. We have ours done every other year and it looks bad until spring and then...like magic it sprouts new buds and looks very nice. If you have not had this done in the past they probably did you a favor. Just my opinion...

good luck w/that - replacement tree,,, these trees aren't expensive however you can't 'murder' these things - even cutting them off at ground level won't do it. however, IF you don't cut them back (prune) ea yr prior to bloom, they'll turn into ugly multi-branched weed trees,,, pruning to most, is managing growth, & necessary for the trees' good health,,, obviously some think its 'murder' but its only a brush burn to the tree :-) usually ours are chopped in feb
to me, an 'arborist' is a lawn/tree maintenance fellow who speaks better english & charges more to tell you the same thing in a much longer & more articulate explanation/presentation

Not to worry! Having lived in Georgia and Florida for many years and having owned Crepe Myrtles, these trees get cut back annually and grow out quickly.

Crape Myrtles are very resilient. It make take several years but your tree should recover

Not to worry. If you look around while driving you’ll see a lot of them cut back. It will all grow back.
Ours is trimmed like that every year.by our lawn mowing company.