Crape Myrtles are known for being easy-going plants that can tolerate various conditions. Still, knowing how best to care for these beauties will ensure the best results come blooming season. Crape Myrtles do have some preferences that you should know about when it comes to water.
Crape Myrtles need at least one inch of water per week, with more during especially hot and dry weather. Still, these plants are fairly drought resistant once they’ve matured. Though Crape Myrtles like a good and deep soaking, issues like poor drainage and overwatering can lead to problems.
Thankfully, once Crape Myrtles are established, you most likely won’t need to give them much water, assuming you’re getting regular amounts of rainfall. But when a Crape Myrtle has just been planted, it will take a bit more attention on your part. Read on to find out how much water your Crape Myrtle will need and the differences between watering new and established plants.
How Much Water Does a Crape Myrtle Need?
The amount of water that your Crape Myrtle needs ultimately depends on the plant’s size and your soil composition. The time of year and weather also matter when it comes to watering a Crape Myrtle. In general, Crape Myrtles like moist soil, especially when they are young and newly planted. Once they’re established, though, they’re much more tolerant of dry periods.
Crape Myrtles just need enough water to keep moist and hydrated, which means they don’t need a deep soaking every day. If you’re getting rain regularly, you shouldn’t have to water your established, mature Crape. Still, there may be times when hot and dry weather leads to dry soil.
During those periods, you’ll need to supplement with a deep, thorough soaking about once per week. An easy way to check the moisture is to stick your finger into the soil. If it feels very dry, then it’s time to water your plant. If it feels moist, then you know there’s still some water content in the soil.
Keep in mind that the amount of water your Crape Myrtle will need depends a lot on your soil. For example, if you live in an area with clay soil, it will retain water and drain slower than if you have sandy soil.
Do Crape Myrtles Like Wet or Dry Soil?
Crape Myrtles like moist soil – not too wet, not too dry. However, if you’re going to lean one way or the other, these plants can tolerate dry soil much better than wet soil. Crape Myrtles do not do well with soggy roots. Well-draining soil is essential to your plant’s health.
Crape Myrtles are versatile and generally easy to please. You can plant them in less-than-ideal soil conditions and still have a beautiful, blooming shrub or tree each summer. But certain conditions do make it much harder for your Crape Myrtle to thrive. Soggy soil is one of them. Poorly drained, sopping wet soil can lead to root rot and other diseases.
If you’re uncertain of how much water your soil is retaining, there are some easy ways to test the drainage.
Follow these steps to check if your soil is well-draining:
- Dig a hole about 12 inches wide and 12-18 inches deep.
- Place a ruler or stick into the hole, so it’s standing straight up.
- Fill the hole with water and let it drain completely.
- Re-fill the hole, marking or taking note of the water level on your stick.
- Measure the water level every hour for several hours.
- If the soil is well-draining, the water will drain at least one inch per hour.
How to Water a Newly Planted Crape Myrtle
When your Crape Myrtle is newly planted, it will need a little more TLC. The most important factor is the plant’s location, so it’s always a good idea to ensure that the area is well-draining and gets enough sunlight before you plant your new Crape Myrtle.
Once it’s in the ground, water your newly planted Crape Myrtle thoroughly. Give it a good, deep soaking to completely saturated the soil. Check the soil daily to ensure that it stays moist while the plant gets established in its new home.
During the dormant months, you should water your new Crape Myrtle about once per week (maybe more, depending on the weather). During the warmer months, you’ll need to water your Crape Myrtle much more frequently. If you live in a very hot area and don’t get any rain, you may need to water your Crape Myrtle every other day for a while.
Continue to water your new Crape Myrtle regularly, several times per week, for at least the first two to four months. This is especially important during the active growing season and during the summer. Keeping the soil moist (but not soaked) will be essential for getting the best blooms on your Crape Myrtle.
How and When to Water an Established Crape Myrtle
Once your Crape Myrtle is established in its new home, it will be much more self-sufficient, and you won’t have to water it so often. Your plant will typically be considered “established” after the first year. Still, there may be times when you need to give it a drink if you’re not getting enough rain in your area.
An established Crape Myrtle can tolerate quite a bit of drought, and they can live in dry, sandy soils as long as they get water periodically. A good rule of thumb is to give your Crape Myrtle a thorough, deep watering at least once or twice per month. You may need to increase the frequency of waterings if you live in a very hot and dry area, if your soil is very sandy, or if your Crape Myrtle is very large.
A deep soaking would be watering it to a depth of about six inches. An easy way to give your Crape Myrtle a deep watering is by using a soaker hose. Doing so will allow the water to soak down into the soil without creating a boggy mess around the plant’s root ball.
It’s always best to water the soil at the base of the plant and not spray the plant with water directly. Spraying water on the leaves and branches can increase the chances for various molds and pests to take hold of the foliage.
Take special care not to overwater your Crape Myrtle, especially during the spring and summer months when the plant is actively growing. Overwatering your Crape can cause its flower production to be stunted or lead to root rot and other problems.
You can water anytime that the ground isn’t frozen during the winter months. If you live in a warm area where the ground doesn’t freeze, you should water your Crape Myrtle once or twice per month during the dormant season.
Putting It All Together
Crape Myrtles are great options for any lawn or garden because they are versatile and easy to grow. Their brightly colored, delicate flowers make these trees perfect for standalone showpieces or complementary shrubs. A big part of their popularity is because Crape Myrtles can grow in less-than-ideal conditions. You can grow them in sandy or clay soil, and they can tolerate high temperatures and drought conditions.
Still, to have the best results with your Crape Myrtle, you’ll need to know and understand its needs when it comes to watering. Ideally, your Crape Myrtle would like to have moist soil all the time. If you live in an area where that’s unlikely to happen naturally, you can give it a drink a couple of times per month by applying a deep soaking to a depth of about six inches.
When your Crape Myrtle is new, you’ll need to give it much more water and keep it thoroughly hydrated until it becomes established. In either case, take care not to overwater your Crape Myrtle. These plants don’t do well in overly saturated soil conditions, and if the soil doesn’t drain well enough, it may lead to bigger problems down the road.
You can help your Crape Myrtle conserve moisture by putting a 1-2 inch layer of mulch around the base of the plant. Doing so will help insulate the roots, keep them cooler during the summer, warmer during the winter, and help retain moisture under the soil during dry periods.