Oil squirt can and crepe myrtle

[Texas001]

My grandson visited and brought along his two boys ages 6 and 4. One of them found my oil squirt can. Probably neither one ever saw a squirt can before but figured out how to squirt the lower (ground up to three feet) trunk of a very large Crepe Myrtle. When I saw what happened i washed it down with soap and wiped it dry. Will that oil hurt the tree? Worried. Thanks for your reply.

 

[Meadowlark]

Howdy. We Texans love our crepe myrtles...and grandkids and great grandkids

Given how difficult it is to kill a mature crepe myrtle, and your aid in treating it. I'd bet on that one coming back strong this spring as good as ever. Keep us posted on how it does.

 

[Chuck]

My grandson visited and brought along his two boys ages 6 and 4. One of them found my oil squirt can. Probably neither one ever saw a squirt can before but figured out how to squirt the lower (ground up to three feet) trunk of a very large Crepe Myrtle. When I saw what happened i washed it down with soap and wiped it dry. Will that oil hurt the tree? Worried. Thanks for your reply.

It shouldn't hurt the tree but oil on the roots can. The good news is that a large crepe myrtle has an extensive root system and it would take a few full cans of oil to do any significant damage. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Hedgeapple]

2025 will probably be that tree’s most pest-free year yet.

 

[Texas001]

Thanks to all that replied. Your assurance that I should not need to worry makes me happy. One additional note about this tree Three or four years ago my water softener, which is in my garage, over flowed the salt bin and flooded my garage and a lot of salt water also flooded this crepe Myrtle. one of the main trunks died but the rest of the tree survived. So this crepe Myrtle has already had one near death experience. That is why I was upset about the oil on the trunk. Didn’t want to lose it now. Should be budding out in early March.

 

[Meadowlark]

I had a mature one about that size that was intruding on power lines...so the power coop cut it down. A 50-pound sack of salt and diesel mix applied directly to the stump did not stop it from resprouting...and 10 years later I still get some coming up. They are one tough plant to kill.

I'm betting on yours easily surviving a can of oil.

Would love to see picture of it in bloom this spring.

 

[oneeye]

I understand why you are concerned. I use to spray dormant oil on Crepe Myrtles in the Winter to kill scale bugs and other pests. Almost any oil will work, but doramnt oil is by far the best to spray on them. Its good as a preventive too. You don't have anything to worry about friend.