What is eating my crepe myrtle?

Crepe myrtle pests include aphids and mold. Japanese beetles are another of the crepe myrtle pests that should be mentioned. These bugs will eat the tree. Their larvae are complete pests and with enough of these beetles, can destroy a whole tree.

People also ask, what animal eats crepe myrtles?

Several predators feed on the crape myrtle aphid. These include ladybird beetles (ladybugs) and their larvae (immature forms), green lacewings and their larvae, hover fly maggots, parasitic wasps, and entomophagous (insect feeding) fungi.

Additionally, how do you treat crepe myrtle scales? He suggests two treatment options – contact spray or systemic – for landscapers or residents who have identified signs of crape myrtle bark scale based on data. Trees can be treated with a contact insecticide spray as pest numbers peak, followed by another treatment two weeks later, he said.

Likewise, do crepe myrtles attract flies?

crape myrtle only feed crape myrtle. Since they feed on phloem –the sugary fluid produced by photosynthesis in the leaves – they produce a lot of sticky honeydew. Honeydew attracts ants, flies, wasps and other insects.

How do you treat aphids on crepe myrtles?

Attract beneficials to help provide control. Spray the tree with a molasses solution (2 ounces of molasses to 1 gallon of water) and then release lady bugs (available at some garden centers). You also could treat with neem or a horticultural oil. Once the aphids are gone, the sooty mold will gradually disappear.

31 Related Question Answers Found

Will aphids kill crepe myrtles?

Crape myrtle aphids are tiny, only about a 16th of an inch long. It can improve control of pests such as aphids. Remember, an insecticide application will never kill every individual of a pest population. It is the job of natural enemies to clean up after and between insecticide applications.

How do you treat black fungus on crepe myrtles?

Control: On small plants, wipe or wash off the molds with a small sponge and water. On large trees, use a hose-end sprayer to wash off mold. Spray plants with malathion, horticultural oil, azadirachtin (Neem), or acephate (Orthene) to control insects that secrete honeydew.

What causes aphids on crape myrtles?

Crapemyrtle aphids feed by inserting slender mouthparts into leaves and sucking out sap that is rich in sugars. As they feed, aphids also inject saliva. This saliva causes pale yellow spots on the leaves. Since aphids consume large quantities of plant sap, they excrete sweet, sticky liquid called honeydew.

How do you get rid of white fungus on crepe myrtles?

Many people fight powdery mildew by trimming back all affected branches, but this can reduce a floral display if done too late in the season. The best practice is to choose a resistant variety of crape myrtle and plant it in the sun. The next best practice is to spray with a preventive fungicide early on.

Are crepe myrtles poisonous?

Many beautiful plants contain toxins that present a danger to puppies and other animals. However, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reports that crepe myrtle is perfectly safe and non-toxic for animals, as well as humans.

What do you spray crepe myrtles with?

A dormant oil spray can also be effective at controlling scales on woody ornamentals such as crape myrtles. When trees are just beginning to bud, mix 7 1/2 tablespoons of a dormant oil solution with 1 gallon of water. Coat the base of the tree and everywhere else scales congregate.

Why is my crepe myrtle not blooming?

The number one most common reason Crepe Myrtles fail to bloom is improper pruning techniques (or a lack of pruning altogether). Crepe Myrtles bloom on the current season's growth. If they are pruned too late, all the new wood is removed and the flower buds never develop.

Why are crepe myrtles dying?

If you are seeing brown leaves on your crepe myrtle plant in the spring, it could be due to your area experiencing a cold snap. Crepe myrtle is not as tolerant of cold weather as many bushes are. An untimely drop in temperature after the tender leaves have made their appearance can spell death for them.

How long do crepe myrtles live?

50 years

Can you plant crepe myrtles close to the house?

Crape Myrtle Choices

As a general rule of thumb, plant crape myrtles of this mature size a minimum of 8 to 10 feet from a building wall, and farther if you can. This spacing gives the plant room to expand to its full size. It will naturally tend to grow away from the wall and toward the light.

Can you over water crepe myrtles?

You may water anytime the soil is not frozen in winter, if necessary. Overwatering crape myrtles in spring and summer can diminish flowering, since overly moist soil promotes leafy growth, not flower production.

Is crape myrtle invasive?

Crepe myrtle trees are lovely, delicate trees offering bright, spectacular flowers in the summer and beautiful fall color when the weather begins to chill. But are crepe myrtle roots invasive enough to cause problems? You don't have to worry about this issue because crepe myrtle tree roots are not invasive.

How tall do crepe myrtles get?

Crepe myrtles range in size from dwarf selections that grow less than 3 feet tall to several that reach upwards of 30 feet. Knowing the mature height of a plant before you buy it and planting the proper size for the site will save you much heartache and backache in the future.

How do you start a crape myrtle tree?

Take 4-inch long cuttings, each with a bud 1/4 of an inch from the top end. They should be about as thick as a pencil. Dip the bottom of each cutting into a rooting hormone and insert the cuttings into a pot filled with a moist lightweight potting soil or soil-less mix.

Do crepe myrtles bloom first year?

Most years, crape myrtles start blooming between mid-May and early June. Crape myrtles need to have new growth each spring in order to produce summer flowers. These flowers come on current-season growth, so late winter/early spring fertilization can aid crape myrtle flowering in the summer.

Do bees like crepe myrtle?

Pollinators. Crape myrtles prefer full sunlight locations with periodic irrigation for vigorous growth and blossoming. Beneficial insects visiting your crape myrtle, from bees to wasps, are attracted to both the bright flowers and honeydew residue left from aphid activity.

Do hummingbirds like crepe myrtles?

Crape myrtle is a year-round belle in the South, where it thrives in the warmth and blooms from July to September. The spectacular flowers won't stop attracting butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. You can even remove the first wave of flowers to encourage a second bloom.