Magnolia Advice

[Nafeun]

Hi guys, I'm a long time lurker - been burning wood for 12 months now in my stove and this forum has been great,

 

I need to prune a magnolia in my rear garden, my wife and I love the tree but we are having some building work done (flat roof to pitched). It is also getting a little big considering how close it is to the house. So two questions for you experts.

 

When is the best time of year to prune? Building work starts June.

 

Where do you advise cutting with the chain saw? I want to cut the three main shoots.

 

Thanks a lot

[Mick Dempsey]

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/general-chat/96761-magnolia-reduction.html

 

They're very resilient to pruning.

[nepia]

I'm not sure abut that type of Magnolia being resilient but the best time of year is late summer and the best way is 'as little as possible': Magnolia often die back from the cut so that you have lateral regrowth well below the cut and a long dead stub.

[Dean Lofthouse]

I try to avoid spring pruning as I find it results in more growth compared to autumn pruning

[Nafeun]

Cheers guys

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Worth a look here too https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=599#section-2

[Thesnarlingbadger]

I was always under the impression that you should prune magnolias after they flowered. Some flower in spring and some in summer.

With regards to where to cut to I'd bring the stem on the right (nearest the house) back to the growth point midway up to take it back from the house (where it kinks off) and the rest reduce only by a few feet, it will leave the tree a different shape but needs must I suppose.

That being said I would need some more pictures to see the my idea would look alright or downright silly.

[Thesnarlingbadger]

Something like this (excuse the crap drawing skills)

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Looks good to me, I guess the hope, at least in part, is to generate a new crown lower down as the tree is a bit "Jerry Hall"...leggy.

 

Cheers..

[nepia]

I was always under the impression that you should prune magnolias after they flowered. Some flower in spring and some in summer.

 

 

Depends on the type of Mag; evergreens in spring as soon as the risk of hard frost is over, deciduous in late summer.

[Thesnarlingbadger]

Depends on the type of Mag; evergreens in spring as soon as the risk of hard frost is over, deciduous in late summer.

 

 

Ahh good to know. Thanks mate.