Hello, this is not a crepe myrtle but a Purpleleaf Sandcherry tree which as you know are a lot alike. I searched for every single video online and all of them show how to prune a fully grown mature mytle. None of them show or really explain how to prune a young one. So do I remove all of the stems and leaves on the bottom and leave only the ones on the top so that it has the long bare branches and a puffy top? Here are two pics of my purpleleaf I really don't know where to start. I am guessing I have to remove the stems that are growing straight up from the larger curved one?
That looks like a very young plant. Have you considered just leaving it to grow for a year, and deciding how to prune later? I have found that early pruning often leads to more spindly growth and not the desired shape.
I actually did that at my last house with this same plant. It got really huge and I hired a guy to prune it and he chopped it all up but then the year after it formed perfectly. If looks small in the pic but it's about six feet tall.
Maybe this link will help @garden_newbie I think this needs to be pruned back at the right time of year, and it may be a bit too late to do it now. I would do it in early springtime before the birds start to nest. Here, I have left my prunus varieties to do their own thing, and they all seem to manage ok without pruning, but of course it is the growers preference that counts.
As an afterthought, I think your tree won't get very much taller if left alone, as I believe this particular Prunus only grows to about 8 feet.
If this was planted recently,, I would not prune at all ! Leave it til the second year at least ! That gives the roots time to get established and start growing well ! Then just think about what you want it to look like and prune accordingly ! Juust make sure when you prune that yo keep the cuts close to the main plant and at an angle so to not allow water to stand on the cuts !
Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. I have always used this quote. For me. There is no correct way/method. Basically it comes down to the above quote. For instance. Some gardeners totally object to the idea of cutting bits off a plant. So what now? Check out the known details of your plant. Browse what others have recorded. Now study YOUR plant. Ask yourself. Just what do I want to see when I look at this plant. Remember. Most of our plants are mutants of the originals. One very important factor is. Especially for trees and shrubs, prune so as to maintane a clear centre. Congested centers harbour problems.
I think that the same thing could well apply to people too @MIKE ALLEN . ''Congested centres harbour problems''
