Winter can be a great time to do some pruning. Trees and shrubs need pruning throughout the year to encourage proper growth and increased number of blooms. Crapemyrtles are a perfect choice for this time of year. They have dropped all their leaves and are easy to work with. Opinions vary as to the proper technique when it comes to Crapes. I prefer to cut the branches from the last season back to the “nuckle”. The “nuckle” is the bulge at the end of the lead or main branches of the tree. Crapemyrtles flower on “new wood”. Pruning back to these nuckles will stimulate lots of new growth without weakening the tree. The right timing and technique now will pay off big time in mid-summer!