Growing Crape Myrtle in Containers

Do I bring in my crape myrtles, in one gallon pots, in for the winter or do I plant them? They are about 24-30" high and I live in zone 5.

Crape myrtles are borderline hardy in zone 6. Some northern gardeners (zone 5) have had success over wintering them outdoors in a protected spot. Even though they survived a mild winter or two, they did die back to ground level. Try moving the containers into a cool location such as your basement. Water the soil occasionally to prevent the roots from drying. Move the plant under artificial lights or in front of a window if it begins to sprout leaves. You can take a chance and store the crape myrtle in a protected spot in an unheated garage. Provide extra root and top insulation. Water whenever the soil is dry and thawed.

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