Question
i planted a 7 foot tall crape myrtle about a 2 months ago and only a few days ago the leaves have started to turn red and it seems like more and more turn red everyday. we are still in summer so it cant be because the change of seasons. it gets watered regularly by the sprinkler system and the soil isnt to awfully moist (just right)and i live in hesperia, ca. it is in the high desert of southern california and the weather is warm to mainly hot in the summer and windy.

can you think of anything that might be going wrong.


Answer
Lionel,

The Crape Myrtle is probably in transplant shock. Transplant shock causes stress on the plant, this would explain the early fall color.

I would recommend watering it heavily and using a low nitrogen granular organic fertilizer to help strengthen the plant.

Good luck,
Ed Gulliksen