Pretty Maids All in a Row

Crepe Myrtles Before

Thank you Eagles - Hotel California. (more below)

This is one of the best row placements of crepe myrtles - well spaced, not too close to the home or the street - great job, whomever.

They are mature and mingle with each other slightly about mid-crown.

Crepe Myrtles After

They had been crepe murdered (pollarded) once and thankfully, only once. And, it was done at a height which allows these girls to maintain their tree shape and the vase-like branch structure via some proper pruning.

There weren't many more dead branches than I am used to from a crepe myrtle only being cut back once, but there were plenty of spindly whips, weak and diverted branches.

Now their gorgeous legs are exposed and they have beautiful, healthy hair.

Next came Eva and Zsa Zsa, truly having having had bad hair days (years).

Zsa Zsa Before

Both had been cut back (crepe murdered) two to three times at about four feet. There was so much interesting stuff going on below such height - co-dominant stems early on, more split stems (healthy) and some interesting spread and angles.

Zsa Zsa needed most of her attention paid to the branches above the scene of the crime(s), but some below - again, indiscriminately cutting back the main stems of trees has no healthy benefits and rarely any aesthetically, particularly over time.

Zsa Zsa After

Eva, I'm sorry to say, is not and probably will not do as well as Zsa Zsa. She had injuries and dead branches below the scene of the crime, many. What's done above can adversely affect the life of a plant below and such issues were not addressed. And, they had to be more than obvious.

Clarifying Note: These deficiencies were not the fault of the current property owner. They were purchased along with the home.

Eva Before

The great part is: They both look wonderful now, have lost some  unneeded weight and have many less weaker branches, caused by neglect, taking up the resources these trees need to be healthy and what they should be.

This is why they called me.

The result should be substantial growth in the crown and over time they will more resemble crepe myrtles

Eva After