Hopping up on my soap box

Same variety--which one appeals to you?

Spring is generally a joyful time of year, filled with the sights, sounds, and fragrances of new beginnings.  There is one spring time activity that just irritates and frustrates me.  So, I'm hopping up onto my soap box to rant for a few minutes. 

Why, Why, WHY do people hard prune their crape myrtle trees and shrubs every spring???  Crape myrtles are one of the most beautiful of southern shrubs, or would be, if people would stop hard pruning them.  This shrub blooms all summer long, produces interesting seed pods for the fall, and has uniquely colored trunks that create lovely winter interest after the leaves have fallen. 

But all of this beauty is absolutely ruined by this strange landscaping practice of wacking off all the branches.  As I drive through the neighborhood I see what would be lovely trees and shrubs grossly misshaped with thick trunks, bizarre knobs, and no branches. 

When other trees are budding out, crape myrtles are forced to put their energy into growing all new branches.  These branches are thin and sucker-like, creating a weird snow-cone shape on top of misshapen trunks.    It is amazing to me that the crape myrtles even survive this abusive treatment.

There are a few lovely crape myrtles in my neighborhood that have escaped hard pruning.  These trees and shrubs are allowed to grow and bloom in their natural shape and provide graceful beauty all year long.

Sometimes a tree or shrub does need to be pruned.  I had to prune mine several years ago when we had new siding put onto our house.  I also have to do some pruning to keep suckers from obscuring the shape of the tree.  Pruning can be done without wholesale butchering.

Butchered shrub vs. properly pruned shub

Even these trees that have been butchered can be saved and regrown with their natural growth habit. 

Please stop the abuse of crape myrtles!