I'd assume that it was a rooted cutting to start with, I can't see a graft point there, so I would just prune off the dead wood, and let the rest grow.
Thanks. Would you cut off the leader as well?
If I do so could I later train one of the vertical shoots as a new leader?
In that case, I think @fidgetbones is right, and it's been a rooted cutting and not a graft. The damaged branch is just that - a damaged branch. I don't think you can have a new leader as such, when you've really got a multi stemmed shrub. If the original leader is still healthy, you could leave it, but it may look lopsided because you have another, seemingly strong growing branch. The frost would only affect new soft growth or buds. The damage to the branch will have been due to other factors.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Im pretty sure most of the leader is dead, with growth only at the bottom. When I pruned some of the branches at the top they were all brittle and brown inside.
Would it do any harm to leave the leader till next spring just to see? Or should I just prune it and give myself a healthy shrub instead of a potentially unhealthy tree?
Be aware that one of the reasons for grafting is to speed up the timespan until the tree is mature enough to flower ... a rooted cutting may take much longer to produce flowers.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Just prune the dead stuff off. It will sort itself out as to the shape. I've just taken all the lower branches off mine, to let some light into the flower bed for bulbs beneath. Usually I just cut off dead stuff, or something likely to poke my eye out.
Mine is 30 year old. The main stem is 8 inches diameter.
Thanks all for your help, I will cut off the dead branch back to healthy growth and allow it to recover.
It has already flowered actually, and did a second flower just a few weeks or so ago. Surprising actually for a cutting, because it was only 2 years old when I bought it and I’m pretty sure it was in flower then. Certainly flowered the year after!
Hi all. Would like to say again thanks for all your help last year with my magnolia. Thankfully this year it has come back all nice and healthy and seems to be doing well! I have attached some photos of the flowers it had a month or so ago. Evidently the new growth hasn't really produced any flowers, but that is probably expected; at least it is putting on fresh new growth! It is currently in full leaf and seems healthy (save for some slight yellowing on some of the leaves).
Anyway this was just a little update for anyone who may be interested. Here's to hoping for a very long future for my magnolia!
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If I do so could I later train one of the vertical shoots as a new leader?
The damaged branch is just that - a damaged branch.
I don't think you can have a new leader as such, when you've really got a multi stemmed shrub. If the original leader is still healthy, you could leave it, but it may look lopsided because you have another, seemingly strong growing branch.
The frost would only affect new soft growth or buds. The damage to the branch will have been due to other factors.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
thanks!
Im pretty sure most of the leader is dead, with growth only at the bottom. When I pruned some of the branches at the top they were all brittle and brown inside.
Would it do any harm to leave the leader till next spring just to see? Or should I just prune it and give myself a healthy shrub instead of a potentially unhealthy tree?
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Be aware that one of the reasons for grafting is to speed up the timespan until the tree is mature enough to flower ... a rooted cutting may take much longer to produce flowers.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
i certainly will!
Hi all. Would like to say again thanks for all your help last year with my magnolia. Thankfully this year it has come back all nice and healthy and seems to be doing well! I have attached some photos of the flowers it had a month or so ago. Evidently the new growth hasn't really produced any flowers, but that is probably expected; at least it is putting on fresh new growth! It is currently in full leaf and seems healthy (save for some slight yellowing on some of the leaves).
Anyway this was just a little update for anyone who may be interested. Here's to hoping for a very long future for my magnolia!