Crapemyrtle – Should It Be Removed?

Q: I have a crepe myrtle eight feet from my porch steps. The branches extend over the walkway. In spring and summer dried buds fall and stain my concrete. Is my best move to remove the tree?

A: There is no shame in removing a tree if it doesn’t provide what you want. If the seed pod stains from the crapemyrtle bother you, dig it out and replace it with a small tree, perhaps a coral-bark maple, Japanese styrax, kousa dogwood or an evergreen arborvitae.