The roots of some trees are overstepping as the roots intrude through the pipes underground to seek water and necessary nutrients which is a troubling reality.
Therefore, before/while planting a Crepe Myrtle tree near your house or in the yard, the first question that you might think about is how deep the Crepe Myrtle roots are and whether the roots are invasive or not. So, let us go through the explanations and learn the facts.
Do Crepe Myrtle Have Deep Roots?
Crepe Myrtle trees don’t have deep roots because the main root of a Crepe Myrtle tree’s primary root system doesn’t follow a taproot system, so the roots don’t grow vertically downward deeper in the soil.
Rather the Crepe Myrtle tree’s entire root system is simple and fibrous that horizontally grow up to 3 times far as the surface of the ground is wide.
How Deep Are Crepe Myrtle Roots?
The Crepe Myrtle roots are about 10-12 inches deep as the major roots of a Crepe Myrtle grow deeper underground only up to 10-12 inches. It’s because the roots of the Crepe Myrtle are weak yet dense and not invasive, so these weak roots grow around the territory covered by the tree’s canopy.
How deep a plant’s roots are is comprehended by how deep the plant’s roots can grow under the ground.
And an adult Crepe Myrtle tree’s major roots of the entire root system only can grow 10-12 inches deep in the soil which means the Crepe Myrtle roots are just roughly 10-12 inches deep.
The entire root system of the Crepe Myrtle plant doesn’t follow the taproot system because the roots are very fragile and thick, therefore, the primary root system along with the main root doesn’t grow deeper in the ground vertically.
As a result, the roots are not invasive and grow about 3 times the range of the place encircled by the Crepe Myrtle plant. And round the area, the roots only overspread up to 10-12 inches underground.
How Far Do Crepe Myrtle Tree Roots Go?
The Crepe Myrtle tree roots spread up to 3 times in the span than the region surrounded by the Crepe Myrtle tree’s canopy.
This simply means the root system of the Crepe Myrtle will go as far as 3 times while staying nearer to the top surface in distance from the place the tree has been planted as the root system is shallow as well as fibrous.
Do Crepe Myrtle Trees Have Invasive Roots?
Crepe Myrtle trees don’t have invasive roots. Because the roots of Crepe Myrtle are not strong, so the taproots in the entire root system don’t plunge themselves deep into the soil vertically, neither do send the lateral roots of Crepe Myrtle trees out to break into whatever comes in their way.
Crepe Myrtle trees are relatively small trees with absolutely no forceful roots and this indicates that there is no invasiveness in Crepe Myrtle trees’ roots.
A Crepe Myrtle tree’s roots including the main root are relatively weak and packed together which makes the root system comparatively shallow as well as fibrous.
As a result, the roots comprising the main root in the primary root system can’t plunge themselves deeper into the nearby foundations, ground, or sidewalks. Neither do carry the lateral roots of the tree out into anything that appears in their way.
And this simply confirms that the roots of Crepe Myrtle trees are invasive and they rather spread horizontally over the top surface of the ground.
Can You Plant Crepe Myrtle Near Your House?
You surely can plant a Crepe Myrtle tree near your house because the roots of Crepe Myrtle trees are non-invasive.
Thereby, the roots of the tree will not invade any foundations near your home, driveway, or sidewalk, the roots neither will crack your home’s underground pipes or sewerage as the lateral roots will not be sent to seek nutrition and water.
Can Crepe Myrtle Roots Damage The Foundation And Pipes?
Crepe Myrtle Roots can’t damage the foundation and pipes because the root system is very shallow and doesn’t grow deeper in the ground and vertically.
Also, the roots are considered weak and not aggressive at all, therefore, the roots are not likely to put themselves in the foundations and pipes which means the foundation and pipes will remain unharmed. Besides, the lateral roots don’t go out and crack the pipes or foundations.
How Far Apart Should You Plant Crepe Myrtle Trees?
Depending on the size of the Crepe Myrtle tree, you should plant a Medium Crepe Myrtle tree 6 inches-10 inches apart.
And the Standard Crepe Myrtle trees should be planted 8 inches-12 inches apart. If you want a more distinctive tree look, you should plant Dwarf Crepe Myrtles at least 10 inches apart and Standard Crepe Myrtle trees 15 inches apart.
If you maintain this distance while planting Crepe Myrtle trees, the canopies will grow fully and will offer full shade.
Where Should You Not Plant Crepe Myrtles?
Here, the sports where you should not plan Crepe Myrtle trees have briefly been explained.
Next To A Pool:
Avoid planting a Crepe Myrtle tree next to your home’s swimming pool. Because some species of Crepe Myrtle plant such as “Natchez” blossom for about 100 days in a year.
Therefore, the dried flowers and leaves will drop in the swimming pool which means you have to keep cleaning the pool for one-third tome of the year.
In front Of Window:
Don’t plant a Crepe Myrtle tree in front of your window as the tree will block the window and will rub against the trench while leaning over the roof. Also, sunlight can’t enter your room.
Near Septic Tank:
You strictly should not plant a Crepe Myrtle tree near the septic tank as when the roots will grow, they can crack into the pipes that will come in the way causing a leakage.
What Can I Plant Next To My Crepe Myrtle?
You can plant 6 types of plants next to your Crepe Myrtle tree and these plants include Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus Syriacus), Coreopsis, Lantana, Rain Lily, Creeping Lilyturf, Hibiscus.
All of these flower plants compliment the Crepe Myrtle tree as these plants can withstand partial shade, so they will thrive fully. But you have to ensure that any of these plants can’t invade the roots of Crepe Myrtle.
Are Crepe Myrtles Hard To Dig Up?
Crepe Myrtle trees are hard to dig up because these trees are big enough than what you have been seeing with open eyes. Moreover, the roots of these trees are bigger and wider than Crepe Myrtle Trees.
So it’s difficult if you want to dig around a Crepe Myrtle and take it out of the soil. Thence, you got to ensure that you have dug up enough around a Crepe Myrtle to get the tree unharmed with all of its roots.
How To Remove Crepe Myrtle Roots?
3 tips are deciphered here that will help you remove Crepe Myrtle roots entirely.
Phenoxy Herbicide:
You can remove Crepe Myrtle roots fully without harming the grass in the surroundings just by spraying phenoxy herbicide that contains Dicamba on the leaves. Phenoxy herbicide will exterminate the roots.
Manually Dig Up:
You can just manually dig up enough around the Crepe Myrtle tree with a help of a shovel and uproot the tree’s all roots at once.
Paint Tordon:
If the Crepe Myrtle tree’s roots have gone underneath any concrete driveway or into the yard, dig up manually around the tree with a shovel and uproot the main roots. After that pain Tordon on the chopped roots and spread it all way to the perimeters.
When the Tordon will dry, use soil and cover all the roots.
Is Crepe Myrtle Fast-Growing? How Fast Does Crepe Myrtle Grow?
Crepe Myrtle trees are really fast-growing trees as these trees reach their utmost height which is between 15 feet-30 feet just in a span between 5-10 years.
Also, shrubs of Crepe Myrtle Trees grow at a faster rate, it’s seen to grow a Crepe Myrtle tree as fast as 1-2 feet every year. So they got their pet name as fast-growing trees.
How Do You Keep Crepe Myrtle Small?
To keep a Crepe Myrtle small, chop the suckers off the tree’s bottom part, chop all the scraping and cross thriving branches off the tree as well as cut the branches that are growing inward.
Then slowly get rid of all of the side branches too from the base when the tree will be getting tall. And cut all unwanted branches prior they get hard.
Final Thoughts
The roots of the Crepe Myrtle tree are 10-12 inches deep as the roots only go 10”-12” deep in the soil. Also, the Crepe Myrtle tree’s roots are not invasive because the roots are weak and don’t grow by following the taproot system. Instead, the root system of Crepe Myrtle is shallow and fibrous.