Question
We have a very old Crepe Myrtle in our back yard in Jacksonville FL which was grafted into a tree many years ago.  We have owned the property since 1990, and is has never been trimmed or pruned during that time.  It's perhaps 30 feet tall, and the biggest problem is that it is covered with Spanish moss.  I have tried year after year to get as much moss off the tree, but I can never get it all, and it just grows back, stifling leaf growth.  In fact, about the only new growth occurs at the tips of the limbs.  I have been told that it needs to be severely pruned, but I don't want to ruin it's shape or otherwise injure the plant.  You can see a picture at www.1537.info.  It's the tree coming out of the back deck.  What are your suggestions for trimming?  We also have several bushier ones in the yard which are maybe 20' tall and they too have never been trimmed in 15 years, but they don't have the moss problem.  Thanks,

Ken

Answer
Ken. I am not sure that I can help you to much with this one. I live in Minnesota, and we cannot grow Crape Myrtle in this part of the country, so my knowledge is quite limited on this one. I can help with this little bit. Trimming pretty much any tree is the same, you really cannot cut it completly down, and expect it to come back again, which would get rid of the moss problem. You can prune some branches off, always at an intersection. the problem is the moss. I know nothing about spanish moss, other than people around here pay for it to use in crafts. I am not sure how, or if you can get rid of it. My best suggestion on that would be to contact the University of Florida (or other university), they should have a horticulture/Agriculture program there that can possibly help with the moss problem. I would suggest that you wait and see if you can get the moss under control first, then deal with the trimming. Also, if any larger branches need to come down, I would consider hiring someone to do the trimming, that way if a branch falls hard, and damages the deck, they have to pay for the repair, not you. Sorry I cannot help more, good luck and happy gardening.

Mark.