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Magnolia Tree
Novice23
Posts: 200
I have a smallish Magnolia tree, which is about 3m x 3m. It was here when we moved in some ten years ago. It flowers beautifully every year, and looks very green and healthy all through the summer. My query is all the leaves are on the outside frame of the tree, and the inside branches are bare. I water and feed it, usually general purpose feed, but should the inside be devoid of leaves.
It is overgrowing a pathway, so i need to be able to prune some of the outer branches back to open the pathway, but this will leave that section empty.
Is this right, great or should it have leaves on all or most of the inner branches? If so what do I need to do. Also when is the best time to prune it?
Any advice please?
0
Posts
You can start pruning now till autumn, but don't prune too hard. I'm not entirely sure on your description, so it would be great if you could post a picture. I'm guessing, there is an open section in the centre of this tree and most of the leaves are round the edges and fanning out quite wide? If you have very thick branches, then may be it's best to shape the tree slowly over 3-4 years. They can take a while to react. Take one thickesh branch down and then do another one next year. This is based on you mentioning bare branches, which normally means no side shoots.
Thanks this sounds like it would solve my problem. I would have probably just cut back all the excess branches in one go, but will do it more slowly, as you suggest. Not good at posting pictures, need much more pracctice!
Would it also help if I took out some of the lower branches? This would also help with the pathway a bit.
Many thanks