Crape Myrtle Pruning in Eastern NC: Skip the Crape Murder
Every February, crape myrtles all over eastern North Carolina get cut back to bare stumps. It is the most common pruning mistake we see, and the fix is easier than the habit.
By Pamlico Tree Care · Grantsboro, NC · October 2026
The short answer
Prune crape myrtles in late winter, from late February into early March, before new growth starts. Remove suckers from the base, dead wood, and branches that cross, rub or grow into the center. Do not cut the trunks back to stubs. NC Extension agents call that topping, and it shortens the bloom, delays flowering and leaves the tree with weak branches.
What crape murder is, and why it backfires
"Crape murder" is the name for cutting a crape myrtle's trunks or main branches back to the same height every winter, leaving thick bare stubs. It is done because people believe it makes more flowers, or because the tree has outgrown its spot.
NC Cooperative Extension agents in Wayne and Brunswick counties both warn against it. Topping:
- Shortens the bloom time and delays flowering
- Produces a cluster of thin, weakly attached shoots at each cut, which can sag under the weight of the flowers and break in wind or ice
- Leaves swollen "knuckles" at the cut points where the tree walls off the wounds
- Can increase insect and disease problems
- Destroys the smooth, sculptural trunks that are one of the best things about the tree in winter
Brunswick County Extension makes a simple point: crape myrtles are multi-trunked trees, not shrubs, and they should not be cut like shrubs.
Did you know?
Left in its natural shape, crape myrtle is one of the most wind resistant trees in the Southeast. It ranks in the top group in University of Florida research on trees in hurricanes. Topping trades that strength for weak sprouts. See our guide to which trees fall first in a hurricane.
When to prune crape myrtles
Late winter. Wayne County Extension puts the window at late February into early March. Crape myrtles bloom on new growth, so pruning before that growth starts in spring costs you no flowers. In winter the leaves are off, so you can see the shape of the tree and every crossing branch.
Suckers sprouting from the ground and dead wood can be removed at any time of year.
How to prune a crape myrtle in 5 steps
Pull the suckers
Remove the sprouts coming up from the ground around the base, and the water sprouts growing straight up from the trunks. Cut them off flush.
Take out the dead wood
Dead, damaged or diseased branches come out first. Wayne County Extension calls these the three D's.
Remove crossing branches
Cut out branches that cross or rub against each other, even before they touch. Rubbing wears through the bark and lets in disease and insects.
Open up the center
Remove branches growing inward toward the middle of the tree or hanging downward, so growth heads up and out. Thin crowded branches back to where they join another branch. Better airflow may also help with powdery mildew.
Shorten with the right cut, if you must
If a branch is too tall, follow it down and cut it back to a side branch heading the way you want, rather than cutting through the middle of the branch. Brunswick County Extension recommends exactly this kind of reduction cut.
If your crape myrtle is too big
Most crape myrtles that get topped every year were planted in a spot too small for them. Brunswick County Extension notes that crape myrtles range from about 3 feet to over 30 feet tall, and most are about as wide as they are tall. If yours keeps outgrowing its space, the long term answer is the right size variety in that spot, not a saw every February.
Bringing back a topped crape myrtle
A crape myrtle that has been topped for years can usually be retrained. At each knuckle, choose one or two of the strongest, best placed sprouts and remove the rest. Repeat over the next couple of winters as those shoots thicken into real branches. On a badly knuckled tree, some people cut the trunks down near the ground and let it regrow, then select three to five strong new trunks. Either way, stop cutting back to the same point each year, and the tree will grow out of it.
Taller crape myrtles, and the bigger trees around them, are where we come in. Our tree trimming and pruning page covers the rest, and our guide to the best time to trim trees has the timing for everything else in the yard.
Common questions
When should you prune crape myrtles in North Carolina?expand_more
In late winter, from late February into early March, before new growth begins. Crape myrtles bloom on new growth, so late winter pruning does not cost you flowers. Suckers and dead wood can be removed at any time.
Does cutting back crape myrtles make them bloom more?expand_more
No. Topping, cutting the trunks back to stubs, shortens the bloom time and delays flowering, according to NC Cooperative Extension. It also produces weak shoots that can sag and break.
How far back should I cut my crape myrtle?expand_more
Usually very little. Remove suckers, dead wood, and crossing or inward growing branches. If a branch is too tall, cut it back to a side branch rather than through the middle. A crape myrtle in the right spot should not need to be cut back for size.
What is crape murder?expand_more
Crape murder is the common name for topping crape myrtles, cutting the trunks or main branches back to stubs each winter. It leaves swollen knuckles, weak sprouts and a shorter bloom, and it can increase insect and disease problems.
Can a topped crape myrtle be fixed?expand_more
Usually, yes. Choose one or two strong sprouts at each knuckle, remove the rest, and repeat over the next couple of winters while they grow into branches. Stop cutting back to the same point every year.
Crape myrtles and trees that need a hand?
We have worked across Craven and Pamlico counties since 2000, from Grantsboro. Jon looks at the trees himself before anyone quotes a number, and he will tell you what actually needs cutting and what should be left alone.
If you already know what you need, start with trimming and pruning, tree removal or stump grinding. More guides are on our blog.
Sources: N.C. Cooperative Extension Wayne County Center, Pruning Crape Myrtles the Correct Way; N.C. Cooperative Extension Brunswick County Center, Crape Myrtle Pruning; University of Florida IFAS Extension, Selecting Coastal Plain Species for Wind Resistance.
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