You need to use an excellent fertilizer to get the best out of your crepe myrtle tree. We’ve compiled a list of our 7 top fertilizers for crepe myrtle.
The Best Fertilizers for Crepe Myrtles
1. Best Overall
2. Best Balanced NPK
3. Best Natural Fertilizer
4. Best 2 in 1 Formula
5. Best for Continuous Release
6. Best Fertilizer Spikes
7. Best for Better Blooms
1. Carl Pool Crepe Myrtle Plant Food
The Carl Pool Crepe Myrtle Plant Food is the best overall fertilizer to promote the healthy growth of crepe myrtles. It is specially formulated with essential minerals and micronutrients to maintain desired growth. The NPK (Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium) ratio is 8-55-7.
The fertilizer is high in phosphorus which will work well to reduce the pH level of soil and make it perfectly acidic, as required for crepe myrtles. This acidity encourages the growth of more blooms, making your crepe myrtle tree more colorful and vibrant.
If your trees have a couple of branches with small brown leaves, you can see amazing results within a week after applying it. This fertilizer will bring back every single branch with more green leaves, a healthy structure, and significant growth.
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Next Read: Top Pumpkin Fertilizers for Larger Pumpkins
2. Nelson Granular Fertilizer
If you want to improve plant health with strong stems, branches, and roots, you should check out this Nelson plant food. This is the best fertilizer for crape myrtles with a blend of nitrogen, phosphate, and potash. It also includes a good range of essential minerals such as iron, zinc, copper, and manganese.
All of these ingredients promote re-growth after pruning, more colorful blooms, and health in all parts of the plant. This product also increases soil nutrients immediately. It will take just a few hours after application to nourish the soil.
This is a must-have for many growers due to its versatile quality. The perfect time to apply this fertilizer is in early spring.
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3. Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N Feed
When you want to flourish your crepe myrtle with deep green foliage and vibrant blooms throughout the season, Miracle-Gro plant food will provide all the essentials.
It contains many natural ingredients, such as bone meal, feather meal, earthworm castings, and more. This helps to build stronger roots and adds natural microbes to the soil.
This organic element aids in nourishing soil properly from top to bottom. You can apply it to potted and in-ground plants. It supplies food to your plant for up to 3 months. Apply MiracleGro during the first growing season and when planting to help establish the roots.
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4. BioAdvanced Tree and Shrub
If you’re looking for an easy all-in-one solution for your crepe myrtle, look no further than BioAdvanced Tree and Shrub Protect & Feed. It provides 12-month plant nutrition and insect protection with just one application.
It protects your crepe myrtle trees and shrubs from 40+ harmful insects like aphids, Japanese beetles, caterpillars, and more. Plus, it provides slow-release feeding for your plant for up to 1 year.
It protects your crepe myrtles from branch to root and improves overall health and growth. You can apply it to both indoor potted and outdoor plants.
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5. Scotts Tree & Shrub Plant Food
If your crepe myrtle is affected by yellowing foliage, fewer flowers, and weak roots. You need to choose a fertilizer like Scotts Plant Food that will improve green foliage and strong root growth and produce more attractive flowers.
This is a slow-release fertilizer that performs well for crepe myrtles and many other acid-loving trees or shrubs, such as camellias, azaleas, and rhododendrons. It also releases enough nutrients and minerals to develop soil moisture.
It’s pretty easy to use. You can apply it directly to the soil. After every application, watering is necessary. You don’t need to fertilize frequently. It can supply nutrition continuously for up to 2 months. For effective results, apply it before buds are formed in the first growing season.
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6. Purely Organic Tree & Shrub Fertilizer
Are you searching for a long-lasting, fast-acting organic fertilizer to get more healthy shrubs? This plant food will be one of the best options for you. It’s scientifically approved for organic use by OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute).
The NPK ratio is 7-0-2, which means it is high in Nitrogen. Nitrogen promotes plant health and growth. It offers nutrition and minerals to the plant roots directly and feeds your plant for up to 3 months.
These spikes are super easy to apply. Put each spike to the ground and use a hammer to drive it in. Apply them in early spring and late fall.
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Keep Reading: Do Fertilizer Spikes Kill Trees?
7. Espoma Organic Holly-tone Plant Food
When it comes to growing larger crepe myrtles with superior development and green foliage, Espoma Organic Holly-tone is a great choice. It’s specially formulated for all acid-loving plants like crepe myrtles, strawberries, blueberries, camellias, etc.
It is scientifically approved for organic gardening. It’s a relatively strong and fast-acting fertilizer. You can get more blooms with vibrant colors by applying this. It slowly releases nutrients to your plant as a long-lasting food supply. Apply in early and late spring.
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How to Fertilize Crepe Myrtle Trees
Choose a balanced, slow-release fertilizer with a ratio of equal parts nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). It’s best to apply the fertilizer in early spring before new growth begins. Spread it evenly over the root zone to ensure the roots can absorb the nutrients from the soil.
The nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium will be indicated by a 3-number ratio on the label (such as 10-10-10 or 8-8-8).
- Nitrogen is important for leaf growth and overall plant health.
- Phosphorus is essential for root growth and flower production.
- Potassium helps the plant resist stress and disease.
Slow-release means that the nutrients are gradually released over a period of time, reducing the risk of fertilizer burn and promoting sustained growth.
- This is a better choice for crepe myrtle trees than quick-release fertilizers, which can provide too much nitrogen at once, causing excessive leaf growth at the expense of flowers and roots.
The reason we recommend applying in the spring is that this is when the tree is starting to come out of dormancy and will be able to take up the nutrients more efficiently.
The root zone of a tree is the area surrounding the trunk where the roots are located.
- This area can be estimated by measuring the diameter of the tree’s canopy and extending it to the sides, roughly in a circular shape.
- For example, if the canopy of a tree is 10 feet wide, its root zone would extend 10 feet from the trunk in all directions.
Try to avoid getting the fertilizer on the trunk or leaves to avoid chemical burns.
After application, water the tree slowly and deeply to help the fertilizer soak into the soil and reach the roots.
Repeat the process once or twice per year, depending on the age and size of the tree. Younger, fast-growing trees may need to be fertilized more often, while older, established trees may only need to be fertilized once or twice a year.
What Is a Crepe Myrtle – Things You Should Know
Crepe myrtle (or crape myrtle) is one of the most popular plants in the world, particularly in warmer climates.
You can divide their sizes into three categories
- Dwarf or miniature size – Grows up between 2 to 5 feet tall and wide.
- Semi-dwarf or medium size – The height is up to 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide.
- Large size – More than 20-30 feet tall and 15 feet wide.
The crape myrtles can flower in a wide range of colors such as purple, red, yellow, white, light to dark pink, lavender, magenta, and many other different shades.
The ideal time to plant these plants is early to late spring. Plant it in a sunny place where they can get enough sunlight. Suitable soil and a good drainage system are a must.
If you are planting them in the summer, make sure to supply adequate water. Prune in winter or early spring to promote more bloom.
Also Read: How to Keep Your Crepe Myrtles Free from Aphids
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Fertilizing Crepe Myrtles
Why Is My Crepe Myrtle Tree Not Blooming?
There are many reasons behind the crepe myrtles tree not blooming, such as the lack of enough sunlight, water, and fertilizer. Lack of new stem growth and late or improper pruning method are other significant reasons for less blooming. Remember, you should not prune crepe myrtles before they bloom.
Over-fertilizing can also affect blooming. It can cause your crepe myrtle to grow quickly but at the cost of producing fewer flowers. Your trees will expend all their energy into growing.
Be patient. Wait until the second season comes for crepe myrtles’ to bloom. Some varieties of these newly planted crepe myrtles may not bloom until the second year.
How Can I Make My Crepe Myrtle Bloom More?
If you want to encourage more flowers during the blooming season, you should address any issues hindering your crepe myrtle. First, test the pH levels in your soil to ensure that you use the proper ratio of nutrients in your fertilizer.
For more blossoms, consider applying fertilizer containing low nitrogen and phosphorus. This is because higher nitrogen promotes plant growth instead of blooming. Additionally, you can add a little amount of bone meal around the tree. Fertilize in the spring and ensure that the soil is watered regularly.
Are Coffee Grounds Good for Crepe Myrtles?
Crepe Myrtles like coffee grounds because they contain the proper balance of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, copper, and magnesium. It is an effective natural solution to improving your soil structure and promoting the healthy growth of your crepe myrtles.
You can also protect your plants from insects and other diseases by applying coffee grounds. Aphids, sooty mold, and other common insects strongly hate the smell, texture, or acidity of it. You can use it in place of any other toxic pesticide that is harmful to the environment.
If the soil pH range is 6.0-6.5, there’s no need to apply coffee grounds. Coffee grounds can be beneficial for soil with a pH over 7.0.
Are Crepe Myrtle Trees Acid Loving?
Crepe myrtles grow well in acidic soil. Acid also helps to achieve more flowers that are larger and more vibrant. Crape myrtles prefer a variety of soils, from acidic to mildly acidic. Though the pH range of maximum garden soils is 6.0 to 7.0, the range of 5.5 to 6.5 is perfect for crepe myrtles.
If necessary, you can raise or lower the pH of your garden soil. Apply more sulfur to lower the pH and increase acidity. Apply agricultural limestone to raise the soil pH levels and decrease acidity.
Is Epsom Salt Good for Crape Myrtles?
Epsom salt helps to promote more green leaves, and flowers blooming. Epsom salt has micronutrients with sulfur, oxygen, and magnesium that help to attain healthier and faster growth for your plants.
To get rid of insects and some diseases, Epsom salt also works well. If you consider spraying leaves with Epsom salt, avoid doing so on hot sunny days.
Before applying, a soil test is necessary to know the pH level. If the pH is more than 6.5 and it has less acidity, a small amount of Epsom salt will work better.
How to Grow Crape Myrtle in Cold Climates?
Crepe myrtles do best in warmer climates, but growing them in a cooler climate is still possible. Though they will require extra care.
When planting them outdoors in cold climates, choose the warmest spot in your yard with the best access to sunlight.
If you want to grow them indoors, you plant dwarf varieties in containers. Select a big enough container so that they have space to grow.
Though the tree may look dead in the winter, the roots are still alive. In spring, they start to wake up gradually and get new green leaves and new growth. When you notice new growth, provide them with enough water and fertilizer.
