I plan to use Crape Myrtle Trees as a privacy screen/wall.. I need to know how far apart I should plant them??

Question

I plan to use Crape Myrtle Trees as a privacy screen/wall.. I need to know how far apart I should plant them??

Answer 1

There are a lot of factors to consider. If they will be getting plenty of sunlight all day they will grow quite large and full. If they are shaded part of the day you should probably plant them closer together because they won't get as large. I wouldn't plant them any closer than every 3', but no further than 6' apart. I've used them like you're planning to and mine grew HUGE and thick and were beautiful during the summer months, but they were also rather bare and shabby looking during the winter. Might be something you want to consider before putting a lot of time and effort into your project.

Answer 2

It depends on how tall they get. They have different varities, some grow like bushes about 5' tall and others can get as tall as 20'. I would plant them about 4' apart(bush variety) and 6' apart for the trees. You will have to prune and shape them but it should look beautiful!

Answer 3

Crape myrtle trees grow pretty slow.  I have them in my back yard and they were planted about 4 feet apart.  They are thirty feet high now but very old.  Crape myrtle trees love to sucker too. "Grow new ones from the roots".

Answer 4

This question really needs some thorough research on your part. There are many varieties of Crepe Myrtle and I will tell you what I would do if I were planting them. I would want to know the name of the variey I was planting so I would know the color, expected height and expected width. Knowing that, I would know how to space them. Remember, they need air circulation! They come as Standard, dwarf, miniature and weeping so you really need to make sure you get the size you want. They don't grow all that slowly when they are young and you will need to stay after them to get them in the shape you want - just don't ever "top" them please! That ruins the shape of them. Get on the net and research them - some things I learned running a garden center here in Texas are: (1) Absolute full sun  (2) good air circulation around them to prevent mildew -they WILL get it here in Texas. (3) Very important - buy them for the mature size you want them to be because as I said Pollarding (topping) them ruins their shape and natural beauty. (4) They don't do so well up against a fence or wall - circulation again. They are basically trees, not bushes, and the "Standards" can get to twenty feet while the "dwarf" isn't really so "dwarf" and might be the size you want for a screen. Absolute great landscape choice and you will love it. Do yourself a favor before you do all the work and invest your money by maybe buying a book written by a Texas author or download some advice off the net that is offered by a Texas author. The Texas part is important because of our unique growing conditions and you want this piece of your landscape to last.