Your Cart is Empty
Pruning magnolia plants is a task that requires a careful, nuanced approach. Unlike some other plants and their care requirements,magnolias only require a very gentle pruning approach. They can be quite sensitive, meaning excessive pruning could damage the plants long term and reduce their blooms.
This blog will offer guidance on magnolia pruning, so you can keep your favourite plants safe and healthy in the long term.
Magnolia tree pruning is enacted to remove dead, damaged ordiseased plant matter. This will help to keep the plant healthier. It’s important to note that mature magnolias generally don’t require pruning – it’s more beneficial as a selective process for younger plants.
Other reasons for pruning magnolia trees include:
Allowing for better light penetration across the mass of the tree
Improving the airflow by removing crossing or crowded branches
Shaping the trees into a style that best suits your aesthetic needs
Removing suckers and water sprouts that detract from growth and shape
You shouldn’t prune magnolias to control size, as they tend to suffer in terms of health and vitality. If size is a major concern, choose a smaller variety. The timing is also crucial – when to prune a magnolia tree especially depends on whether you choose to invest in deciduous or evergreen garden plants.
Deciduous magnolias likeMagnolia stellata require pruning in mid to late summer. This minimises sap bleeping, along with helping to avoid removing flower buds that form in late summer.
Evergreen magnolias likeFairy Magnolia laevifolia should be pruned in late spring or early summer, allowing the tree to recover quickly and encourage new growth.
These are the primary reasons for and behind pruning magnolia plants, which should guide the remainder of your decisions.
Now that you understand when and why you should prune your magnolias, you might be ready to start making cuts. There are some vital practical considerations you need to keep in mind before going in with the shears willy-nilly.
Use clean and sharp,high-quality pruning tools – cleaning tools with rubbing alcohol, plant-friendly disinfectant or a bleach solution before and after use
Carefully identifying any dead, broken or diseased branches
Looking out for any crossing or rubbing branches, removing them one at a time
Checking for any suckers and water sprouts from the base
When it comes to the literal cutting while pruning magnolias, some principles and techniques include making clean cuts at a 45-degree angle above buds facing in your desired growth direction – especially for smaller branches.
For larger branches, take the three-cut method to protect bark.
Shallow cut the underside of the branch, a few inches away from main branch/trunk
Make a second cut from the top down, an extra inch further out from the first one
Make a clean cut outside the branch collar, avoiding the collar itself
These tips should lead you to cleaner, more consistent cuts.
For more insights into magnolias and more,visit our blog today! We have plenty of guides for all sorts of gardening tasks and questions, so you can feel as confident as possible in the greenery.
