Marianne's Response

How much to use

I have 2 crape myrtle plants I would like to use Osmocote Plus on. These 2 plants have been in the ground for 2 years now. The instructions on the Osmocote bottle say to use 1 capful per 2 gallon pot. When I planted these crape myrtles, they came in a 8 inch pot and were only about 10 inches tall. Now they are about 5 feet tall and with luck they will continue to get larger. How can I tell how much food I should use now and in future years? If I use to much food, will it burn the roots of the plants and kill them?.

Posted by Chuck Anderson on March 19, 2019

Marianne's Response

I did a bit or research on crape myrtle to confirm what I had learned earlier and want you to know that fertilizing is not recommended for the Lagerstroemia or crape myrtle. This is because encouraging fast new growth with a plant food in the summer will make the trees less hardy. For the same reason your trees should be given infrequent but deep watering.  Sometimes we love our plants so much we want to feed and water them when they don't need it. Enjoy your trees. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti

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