"Crape what? Murder. Actually, it is crape myrtle murder. Chopping off the tops of these otherwise graceful, tree-like shrubs is commonplace in East Texas, and unnecessary. Just look around. You see it happening every winter in yards, city parks, and on school grounds primarily for three reasons, people see their neighbors doing it; it is mistakenly thought this is the only way to produce blooms; and the variety of crape myrtle is either too tall or wide for the location. "