Prune crepe myrtle in late winter or early spring before new growth starts
Remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches first
Cut out crossing, rubbing, or inward-growing branches
Remove suckers from the base and any shoots on the trunk
Thin crowded stems by cutting selected branches back to the branch collar
Keep the natural shape of the tree or shrub
If training as a tree, remove lower limbs gradually over time
Do not top the tree or cut main trunks straight across
Make cuts just above a bud or branch junction
Use clean, sharp pruning tools
Remove no more than about one-third of the plant at a time
Clean up and discard pruned material after trimming