Experts Urge 1-2 Weekly Waterings for Crape Myrtles, Avoiding August Pruning

Q: How can a simple piece of double-sided tape save your crape myrtles from devastating bark scale infestations?

A strip of double-sided tape wrapped around infested crape myrtle branches can help detect bark scale at the moment it is easiest to control. The tape catches the tiny pink “crawler” stage of crape myrtle bark scale, which is the only mobile stage and the most vulnerable to treatment. Researchers and extension specialists say this matters because adult bark scale are protected by their waxy covering, while crawlers are exposed. By checking the tape regularly with a hand lens, gardeners can see when crawler activity begins and when it peaks. That gives them a practical signal for when to use controls such as horticultural oil, insecticidal soap, or neem-based products, which work best during crawler emergence. This simple monitoring method is far easier than cutting branches and examining them under a microscope, and it can prevent wasted sprays at the wrong time. Web and university guidance note that bark scale can lead to heavy honeydew, black sooty mold, reduced vigor, fewer blooms, and in severe cases serious decline. The tape itself does not solve the infestation; it helps time action correctly. If crawlers are present, treat during those peak periods and continue basic late-summer care: keep the tree watered deeply during long dry spells, avoid August pruning and late fertilizer, and maintain full sun and good airflow. That combination gives crape myrtles the best chance to withstand and recover from bark scale pressure.

3 articles · Updated · Homes & Gardens · Aug 18

Established crape myrtles usually need little August intervention beyond deep watering during extended dry spells, while container plants may need water 1-2 times a week and newly planted trees are most vulnerable to heat stress.
Deep soaking once or twice weekly is preferred over daily light watering because it drives roots deeper, and experts say plants generally need no supplemental water unless rain has been absent for more than two weeks.
Six to eight hours of direct sun remains the biggest driver of flowering, with deadheading optional for appearance or a possible second flush of blooms.
Aphids, Japanese beetles and crape myrtle bark scale are the main pests to watch, and experts say treating the insects first will also clear the sooty mold that follows.
August care should focus on mulch, moisture and monitoring rather than fertilizer or structural pruning, with major cuts delayed until late-winter dormancy and topping strongly discouraged.