Many individuals love crape myrtles because of their colourful flowers and lovely peeling bark. If you wish to develop considered one of these crops at dwelling, it is best to know the way and when to water them. On this information, I’ll cowl all you might want to learn about watering crape myrtle crops.
How Typically to Water Crape Myrtle
Normally, it is best to water your crape myrtle plant about one to 2 occasions every week. Nevertheless, quite a few components affect exactly how typically it is best to water your plant.
Take into account the next components whenever you’re contemplating how typically to water crape myrtle.
Age of the Plant
Newly planted crape myrtles require extra water than established crops. That’s as a result of youthful crops have a smaller root system that can’t attain water deep within the floor.
Goal to maintain the soil moist throughout the first six months of your plant’s life. It will assist maintain the plant wholesome because it develops a extra sturdy root system.
As soon as the plant reaches its second yr within the floor, you received’t should water it as typically. You need to nonetheless goal to keep away from letting the soil dry out completely, however you don’t have to fret about conserving the soil fully moist.
Time of 12 months
Throughout hotter months, water will evaporate from the soil extra shortly. Moreover, crape myrtles will use and lose extra water through transpiration—the method they use to chill themselves.
That signifies that crape myrtles require extra water in the summertime than they’ll within the spring, fall, and water. When you might have to solely water your plant as soon as a month within the fall, you could have to water it twice every week throughout the summer season.
Soil Sort
The soil kind may also affect how typically it is best to water a crape myrtle.
Water strikes by means of sandy soils extra quickly than it does by means of clay-rich soils. Meaning you have to to water crops rising in sandy soil extra typically than crops rising in clay soil.
Rainfall
Whereas it could sound apparent, extra rain means that you’ll want to water your crape myrtles much less typically. If the soil stays moist from rainfall, you possibly can maintain off on watering.
Alternatively, durations of drought require that you just water your crape myrtle extra regularly.
How one can Water a Crape Myrtle
When it comes time to water your crape myrtle, your objective must be to water the plant completely and deeply. These crops profit from much less frequent, deep watering greater than common, shallow watering.
You must also goal to keep away from splashing water and soil on the plant’s leaves. It will assist restrict the event and unfold of illness.
You need to use a easy hose or watering can to use water across the base of your plant. Slowly add water, so it has an opportunity to percolate by means of the soil.
When you’ve got a number of crops or need to make issues simpler on your self, you should utilize a soaker hose to drip water slowly into the bottom. Go away the hose on for about 20 minutes at a time.
When to Water a Crape Myrtle
Typically, it’s greatest to water within the morning or night. The low gentle and funky temperatures throughout these durations will stop the water from evaporating instantly.
Nevertheless, watering your crape myrtle throughout the day can be advantageous.
So far as the time of yr, you have to to water crape myrtle crops extra typically in the summertime. Until the soil could be very dry, you could not have to water in any respect throughout the winter.
Watering Crape Myrtles FAQs:
How Typically Ought to I Water a Crape Myrtle?
The scale of the plant, time of yr, and soil kind will all affect how typically it is best to water a crape myrtle. Most crops require water one to 3 occasions every week throughout the summer season, and month-to-month throughout the winter.
Can I Overwater a Crape Myrtle?
Sure, it’s doable to overwater your crape myrtle. If these crops sit in moist soil, they might develop root rot and yellow leaves.
How A lot Water Do Crape Myrtles Want?
Crape myrtles require a minimum of one inch of water per week. Nevertheless, youthful crops and people rising in scorching environments might have as much as three inches of water per week.
Ought to I water my Crape Myrtle tree within the morning or night?
It’s greatest to water your Crape Myrtle tree within the morning so the leaves have time to dry out earlier than the solar goes down. This might help stop fungal ailments.
Can I water my Crape Myrtle tree with a sprinkler?
Sure, you possibly can water your Crape Myrtle tree with a sprinkler. Nevertheless, it’s greatest to make use of a soaker hose or drip irrigation system, as they ship water on to the roots and scale back water loss by means of evaporation.
How can I inform if my Crape Myrtle tree wants water?
One approach to inform in case your Crape Myrtle tree wants water is to examine the soil moisture degree. Stick your finger into the soil as much as the second knuckle. If the soil feels dry, it’s time to water. One other signal of water stress is wilting or drooping leaves. Moisture meters can be useful for correct soil moisture readings.
Wrapping Up
To maintain your crape myrtle joyful, goal to maintain the soil moist. Relying on the surroundings, time of yr, and plant dimension, it is best to water your crape myrtle wherever from a couple of occasions per 30 days to some occasions per week.
For extra, see our in-depth information on rising and caring for crape myrtle in your backyard and all the things you might want to learn about pruning and trimming crape myrtle.
Briana holds a B.S. in Plant Sciences from Penn State College. She manages a small market backyard the place she grows greens and herbs. She additionally enjoys rising flowers and houseplants at dwelling.
