Why are my Crepe Myrtles slumping over?

[dowalker]

I have 6 crepe myrtles along a fence. 3 have dark pink flowers and 3 have light pink. They were planted about 3 years ago. They had all been doing fine until this year. After a heavy rainstorm 2 weeks ago, the light pink crepe myrtles were slumped over to the ground. Since then, I have tried holding them up using bungee cord and stakes. Today when I watered the lawn next to the crepe myrtles, the light pink ones slumped over again and one branch partially broke off from the trunk. What can I do to save my crepe myrtles? Help!!!

[The Ent]

What sort of soil do you have at the planting site?

This sounds like the roots haven't spread into the yard sufficiently to support it. That is very unusual for a tree that's been in the ground 3 years. You might need to aerate the soil around it fairly heavily and hit the area with lava sand, greensand, and dry hoticultural molasses to stimulate the soil around the planting area. Making the soil around it attractive toe the roots will help lead them out into the yard.

Also check to make sure the rootball isn't so potbound from their last pot that the roots are all just running in circles.

[dowalker]

Thanks for the suggestions. The crepe myrtles were planted by a friend that didn't follow the proper organic way to plant them. The soil is mostly clay, so the roots probably have not spread much if any. Thanks again.