It is a sure sign that pruning season has begun when I start noticing crape myrtles with their heads lopped off. Many garden writers and Extension people call this "crape murder," and it has become so common in commercial landscapes that many homeowners are convinced it is the correct way to prune their crape myrtles. Before I provide you with some tips on how to prune correctly, I am going to go over a few of the most common misconceptions and comments I get when folks call into the office: "But, if I don’t prune my tree, it won’t bloom."