have I missed the Houston window on trimming back my crapes?

No, it is not too late to trim your crapes.

thanks for that

Why would you trim back Crapes? Is there a benefit to removing more than the dead tissue at the very end?

There are many reasons why people may trim Crape Myrtles, some more beneficial than others. An understanding of judicious pruning is key to the proper care of all of your trees and large shrubs. Unfortunately, Crape Myrtles are often subjected to stressful over pruning and topping simply because "everyone else does it" or a large Crape Myrtle species has been planted in a location that can't accommodate it in full scale. In contrast to such harsh over pruning, which often results in large heading cuts, tipping back requires cuts no larger than the diameter of a pencil. In conjunction with the removal of crossing limbs and selective thinning, properly tipping your Crape Myrtles back not only clears away spent seed pods and eliminates deadwood, but also promotes sprouting, fullness, and blooming. These effects will vary based upon the overall health of the specimen. Additionally, complete care of specimen Crape Myrtles will include a comprehensive program of deep root fertilization, disease prevention, and pest control. Our professional assessment can help you with all of these aspects.