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pruning magnolia

sally smithsally smith Posts: 55
in Problem solving
when is the best time of year to prune my magnolia and any tips on how to prune?

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    It depends on whether it is evergreen or deciduous really as they respond differently and if you get it wrong they can react by producing water shoots - thin spindly things that sap energy and don't look good.

    A small town not far from here prunes some of its street magnolias - evergreens - into formal cone shapes but I've never seen them actually doing it nor seen any flowers on them.   I did have a deciduous magnolia here but it was already sick when we moved here.  I trimmed off dead wood but it didn't like that either and I don't know whether it was already too late to save it or whether I hurried its death.

    I suggest you have a read of this info from the RHS website as a starting point.  Scroll down for pruning advice:
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/popular/magnolia/growing-guide   
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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