In the course of the fall, crape myrtle leaves flip engaging shades of orange, yellow, and crimson. Nevertheless, in case your crape myrtle leaves flip yellow at different occasions of the yr, it may very well be an issue. This text will have a look at eight frequent causes of yellow leaves on crape myrtles.
8 Frequent Causes of Yellow Leaves on Crape Myrtle
Overwatering
Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) are drought-tolerant deciduous shrubs that like to remain barely moist. Overwatering is usually a massive drawback for crape myrtles, resulting in different points like root rot. In case your crape myrtle has yellowing leaves, it might be sitting in waterlogged soil.
Overwatering your crape myrtle can result in root rot. Root rot signs embody yellowing or wilting leaves and brown, mushy, or smelly roots. Crape myrtles want well-draining soils that also maintain some moisture. Take away any rotting roots and add some grit or sand to the soil to supply additional drainage.
Underwatering
Yellow crape myrtle leaves can be an indication of underwatering. Whereas crape myrtles are drought-tolerant, they nonetheless want water to outlive. In case your crape myrtle doesn’t get sufficient water, it’s going to produce weak progress and wilting leaves.
Established crape myrtles want watering as soon as each two weeks when the highest few inches of soil really feel dry. You’ll must water crape myrtles extra incessantly in dry, sizzling summers to cease them from drying out fully.
Too A lot Daylight
Crape myrtle shrubs thrive when given at the least six hours of full solar every day through the rising season. Nevertheless, an excessive amount of direct daylight can harm crape myrtle leaves, turning them yellow. Crape myrtles that get an excessive amount of solar may have burnt or scorched leaves.
Crape myrtles ought to get most of their full solar through the morning when daylight is much less intense. Direct afternoon daylight is harsh and intense, particularly through the summer time. In sizzling climates, plant crape myrtles someplace that will get full solar within the morning and partial shade within the afternoon.
Not Sufficient Daylight
Crape myrtle leaves may also flip yellow if the plant doesn’t get sufficient daylight. Crape myrtles develop finest in full solar however can tolerate partial shade in sizzling areas. Nevertheless, crape myrtles can not tolerate full shade.
Crape myrtles that don’t get sufficient daylight typically fail to flower. Crops within the full shade additionally develop weak, stunted progress.
Too A lot Fertilizer
Crape myrtles are adaptable crops that thrive in nutrient-poor soils. Crape myrtles additionally don’t want quite a lot of fertilizer regardless of being fast-growing crops. Giving your crape myrtle an excessive amount of fertilizer may even scorch the leaves and switch them yellow.
Fertilizers can include robust chemical compounds and salts, so should be diluted earlier than you apply them. Fertilize established crape myrtles every year within the spring with slow-release fertilizer granules.
Not Sufficient Vitamins
Though crape myrtles thrive in nutrient-poor soils, they nonetheless want some vitamins. In case your crape myrtle doesn’t get sufficient vitamin, it will probably develop yellow leaves and weak, stunted progress. It could additionally fail to provide any flowers.
Plant crape myrtles in chalky, loamy, or sandy soils with some added natural matter. This supplies vitamins step by step all year long. Fertilize crape myrtles as soon as each spring with slow-release fertilizers.
Ailments and Pests
Crape myrtles could develop yellow leaves in the event that they undergo from illnesses or pests. Frequent crape myrtle illnesses and pests embody aphids, Japanese beetles, leaf spot illnesses, and powdery mildew. Cercospora leaf spot and bacterial leaf scorch are two issues which can be prone to flip crape myrtle leaves yellow.
Whereas leaf spot could be handled, bacterial leaf scorch is usually terminal. Sadly, this implies you’ll must eliminate your crape myrtle. Remove pests utilizing horticultural oils or insecticidal cleaning soap.
Age
Crape myrtles could develop a number of yellow leaves because of pure growing older. The leaves may flip beautiful shades of yellow through the fall earlier than the leaves drop. Crape myrtles usually stay for about 25 to 50 years and continuously develop new leaves.
As soon as your crape myrtle reaches 10 or 15 years outdated, it might sometimes produce yellow leaves. So long as the leaves look wholesome and there aren’t any signs of different issues, don’t fear an excessive amount of.
The best way to Care For Crape Myrtle
Rising Atmosphere
Crape myrtles thrive in Zones 6 to 9 and require sheltered places to guard them from robust winds. Most crape myrtles can survive winter temperatures as little as -5ºF. In colder climates, develop crape myrtles in containers and defend them by wrapping them in fleece or bringing them indoors.
Daylight Necessities
Crape myrtles want at the least six hours of full solar day-after-day. The morning solar is preferable to direct afternoon daylight, which is extra intense. South or west-facing places present crape myrtles with the best quantity of daylight.
Soil Circumstances
Crape myrtles require well-draining soils that also maintain a little bit of moisture. They will survive in nutrient-poor soils and are drought-tolerant as soon as established. Crape myrtles choose barely acidic soils with pH ranges between 5.0 and 6.5.
Watering
Water established crape myrtles each two weeks or so to maintain the soil moist and extra incessantly in sizzling, dry circumstances. Water newly planted crape myrtles a couple of times every week for the primary couple of years. This helps the plant set up root system.
Fertilizer
Feed older crape myrtles as soon as through the spring with a slow-release fertilizer. This supplies loads of vitamins for the event of latest leaves and flowers. Fertilize newly planted crape myrtles as soon as a month throughout their first rising season.
Pruning & Trimming
Crape myrtles differ in measurement, impacting how typically you need to prune them. Dwarf varieties gained’t want a lot pruning as a result of they solely develop between 2 and 6 ft tall. Nevertheless, some sorts of crape myrtle develop as shrubs or small bushes that attain roughly 30 ft tall and 15 ft huge.
Quite than pruning too typically, assess your backyard first and decide what kind of crape myrtle you may accommodate. Select a crape myrtle that stays at a manageable measurement on your area. This lets you scale back the pruning you’ll must do.
Yellow Leaves on Crape Myrtles FAQs:
How typically ought to I water my crape myrtle to keep away from yellow leaves?
In my expertise, crape myrtles develop finest in well-drained soil and don’t wish to be overwatered. Water deeply however sometimes and solely when the highest inch of soil feels dry to the contact.
How do I do know if my crape myrtle has a nutrient deficiency?
The best methodology is to search for bodily signs comparable to yellowing leaves, stunted progress, or leaf drop. A soil take a look at may also assist decide nutrient ranges and deficiencies.
Can I deal with yellow leaves attributable to environmental stress?
Environmental stress, comparable to excessive temperatures or wind harm, could cause yellowing leaves, however the plant will often get well independently with correct care and watering.
Ought to I prune off yellow leaves from my crape myrtle?
It’s usually not essential to prune off yellow leaves except they’re considerably affecting the plant’s general well being or aesthetics. Generally, yellow leaves could merely signify pure leaf shedding because the plant ages.
How can I stop yellow leaves on my crape myrtle?
Correct watering and fertilization, common pest and illness monitoring, and offering applicable environmental circumstances can assist stop yellowing leaves in your crape myrtle.
Wrapping Up
Crape myrtles can develop yellow leaves because of overwatering, underwatering, incorrect lighting, or an excessive amount of fertilizer. Test different signs to find out the precise trigger. Present good rising circumstances by watering your crape myrtle as soon as each two weeks and offering full solar. fertilize crape myrtles every year through the spring.
For extra, see our in-depth guides to crape myrtle deer resistance and whether or not crape myrtles are poisonous to people and animals.
Edd is a budding content material author and gardener dwelling in the UK. He has a bachelor’s diploma in Artistic and Skilled Writing and has written for a number of gardening publications on-line. He’s enthusiastic about nature and sustainability with a concentrate on gardening and wildlife.
