Tuscarora Crape Myrtle for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on September 29, 2022

Planting instructions

Begin your planting process by digging a hole that is as deep as the root ball is tall and about twice as wide as the root ball or more. Ideally, the location in which you create this planting hole should sit in at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. It’s also best if the soil is moist with good drainage and a reasonable amount of organic nutrients. However, the Tuscarora Crape Myrtle can adapt to several soil types. Finish the planting process by backfilling the hole while watering, then covering the area with a layer of mulch.

Watering and nutrients

Each year in early spring, you can apply a general-purpose fertilizer that contains an equal volume of each main plant nutrient. Watering is also a simple process for this tree. While your Tuscarora Crape Myrtle is young and attempting to establish itself, you should give it enough water to maintain consistent soil moisture. Once somewhat mature, you can water this tree based on soil moisture. Push your finger into the ground near the plant’s roots to feel for moisture. If the first three inches of soil are dry, it is time to give your tree some water.

Pollination

Nearly all gardeners plant a Tuscarora Crape Myrtle with the goal of enhancing the aesthetics of their yard rather than aiming to produce a viable harvest. However, the pollination process of this tree is worth understanding if you wish to grow one. In spring, this tree will provide many nectar-filled flowers that attract beautiful pollinator species, including bees and butterflies. Since the Tuscarora Crape Myrtle is a self-pollinating species, it is easy for a single tree to pollinate itself successfully.

Pruning

Your Tuscarora Crape Myrtle may grow well without much pruning but pruning in the correct manner at the right time of year can help ensure this tree remains healthy and shows off its best attributes to the fullest. In late winter, you should prune this plant to remove any branches that are broken, dead or diseased. Later, when this plant is in bloom, you should perform deadheading any time you notice a spent flower cluster. Deadheading during bloom time will help encourage this plant to bloom more.

Pests, diseases and animals

Diseases can arise in Crape Myrtle trees, with some of the most common ones being powdery mildew, leaf spot and more. Thankfully, the Tuscarora Crape Myrtle variety proves to be well-capable in avoiding those diseases, which lessens the amount of maintenance you’ll need to do to keep this plant’s health intact. Along with disease, pests could also infest your Tuscarora Crape Myrtle on occasion. Common garden insects, including aphids, scale and Japanese beetles, are some of the most likely to arrive at this plant.

Achieving maximum results

Don’t plant a Tuscarora Crape Myrtle Tree unless you have the space to accommodate it. Not only is this crape myrtle variety a fast-growing cultivar, but it is also larger than many other crape myrtles, as it can reach more than 20 feet tall. As such, you should give your Tuscarora Crape Myrtle plenty of vertical and adjacent space into which it can expand. You should also be ready to prune this plant to remove any branches that begin to crowd the canopy or look overgrown.

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