Cultural practices are also important.
Plant crape myrtle in a sunny location with good air circulation. Avoid excessive fertilizer and irrigation, which promote new, susceptible growth. Do not prune during hot weather, but during dormant periods. Prune out and dispose of any infected tissue. The UC cooperative extension recommends that apricots be pruned at the end of August or the first week of September, not in winter or spring, says UC master gardener Bill Pierce.