When you have a crepe myrtle and you need to replant it to another spot, then you might think that you are going to lose your tree. That it isn’t really possible to replant a tree-like your crepe myrtle. However, this isn’t the truth.
There are many reasons why people might want to dig up their crepe myrtle, and if you are doing it correctly, your tree won’t die on you. The moment that you are following these steps, you will know for sure that your crepe myrtle will be dug up and replanted successfully.
When Should You Remove Your Crepe Myrtle?
This is the first thing that you should know when you are digging up your crepe myrtle. You should know when it is the best time for the process. If you are doing this the wrong time of year, then you might end up with a tree that is dying or that is taking a long time to grow healthy again.
The best time is from late autumn to early spring. The moment that the tree lost all its leaves, it is then the best time to dig up the tree for relocation. You have time until early spring when the tree is starting to bloom and to get new leaves again. When this happens, it is too late, and you will need to wait for another year.
Remember the Requirements for a Healthy Growing Crepe Myrtle
Before you can just dig up and replant your crape myrtle, you need to remember what requirements the tree has, in order to grow successfully. In other words, in what conditions the tree should be planted.
You need to take into consideration that the tree needs lots of space to grow because this is a huge tree when it is fully grown. The other thing that you need to consider is the fact that it needs full sunlight. Especially, if you want the tree to bloom correctly.
Things to Do Before You Dig Up the Crepe Myrtle
You can’t just start digging up the tree. There are a couple of things that you should do beforehand first. You need to water the ground around the tree, to wet the soil for easier digging. The soil should be watered each week, for a couple of weeks, so that the soil is soft all the way to the roots.
It is also important to make sure that you are pruning the roots, 6 months before the move. So, this isn’t a decision that you can make in just one day. You’ll need to wait until the tree is leafless before you can start digging up the tree.
Digging Up the Tree Correctly
Remember that the tree is larger than what you are just seeing with your naked eye. The roots underneath the tree are larger and wider than the tree. So, you can just dig around the tree and lift it out of the ground.
You need to make sure that you have enough space around the tree, to get the roots as well. Otherwise, you are going to damage the tree, and it won’t grow successfully. It is always best to remove more soil, rather than too little. Then, you know that you won’t damage the tree in any way. Lifting the tree out of the hole should be done carefully. Not getting rid of the soil around the roots. You might want to get some assistance from friends and family, or from a professional for this step.
Planting the Tree and Aftercare
Now, you can replant your tree, in the prepared hole that you already have done before you dug up the tree. The hole should be larger than the tree that you have removed. Making sure that you have enough soil to cover the roots of the tree completely.
After you have dug up the tree, and have planted it again, you need to give it nutrients and make sure that you are watering it until it starts to grow again. You will see when the leaves are starting to grow. Something that you should consider is that you need to make sure that you are planting the tree as fast as possible after you have dug it up.
The longer it is out of the ground, the better the chance that the tree will die. You don’t need to worry if you need to dig up your crepe myrtle. This can be done successfully and replanted without your tree dying. There are just a couple of things that you need to do before you can do this successfully.
If you are following this guide carefully, you will have a healthy growing crepe myrtle again and you can enjoy your beautiful growing tree, and flowers during spring again.