Magnolia pollarding .

[Jack.P]

Been doing a job for a client today and they had mentioned about an old magnolia tree

can these be pollarded like willow and if so when would be the best time to it ? (south England climate)

also would it be better to cut just below the new growth or cut each small stems back individually?

(picture is of the tree from a year ago but in the winter )

They want it topped off a bit but not cut these trees before .it seems like it won’t benefit the tree much and better off saying no ?

 

 

Thanks

 

[Mick Dempsey]

Very resilient to heavy pruning ime.

[Paul Cleaver]

45 minutes ago, Jack.P said:

Been doing a job for a client today and they had mentioned about an old magnolia tree

can these be pollarded like willow and if so when would be the best time to it ? (south England climate)

also would it be better to cut just below the new growth or cut each small stems back individually?

(picture is of the tree from a year ago but in the winter )

They want it topped off a bit but not cut these trees before .it seems like it won’t benefit the tree much and better off saying no ?

 

 

Thanks

 

Out of the 2 options you give, it would be considerably better for the tree to cut just above the previous old pruning cuts ( so that would be cutting the new growth only, to 2 -3 " above the old pruning points).

[john meehan]

As it’s been done before you will be ok doing again. Get a good sharp silky or even secatures and take it back to the base of the new growth with a proper cut at the collar. Little pegs everywhere look terrible and stop the tree creating a pollard head. This can repeater on a cycle depending on how fast it grows

[Mick Dempsey]

Took down a couple of magnolias this week.

I was struck by these seeds in the ‘fruit’

Bright red, like something from a sci-fi film.

 

Thats it really.

Edited December 11, 2022 by Mick Dempsey

[Chipperclown]

Not sure I am up to date, maybe not as I am getting old, but shouldn't this occur in the warmer months? More a question than an answer!

 

Pollarding in general though assuming this is a repeat process then yes above not below.

 

PS every day is a school day 

[daveatdave]

prune magnolias after they have flowered because they flower on the previous years groth