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Magnolia growing where OH doesn’t want it

EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
in Problem solving

We have a magnolia shrub in an island bed close to the turning space in our yard (we’re on a farm). I think it must be about 20-25 years old. It has always reached out towards the yard (eastwards), gradually getting closer to the edge and killing the narrowing strip of lawn beneath it. This habit was no doubt caused by the other shrubs behind it in the bed, compounded by the fact that the whole island is lightly shaded in summer to the west and south by a copse of tall trees . OH is not happy with the continuing reduction of his lawn and the imminent encroachment onto the yard. A few years ago, I removed the lowest big branch. I was hoping to gradually rein it in over a few years. But it didn’t shoot again from the base as I hoped, but just lowered its remaining branches to fill that space, and we’re back to square one. I’m wondering if anything could be done. I’m reluctant to cut all of the branches right back in case it doesn’t forgive me. I have radically pruned the shrub immediately behind the magnolia, and wouldn’t mind doing the same with the others in that bed. But I suspect it’s not going to agree to grow in another direction at this late date. Help!

Pictures show it from the front and back.



Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


Posts

  • ViewAheadViewAhead Posts: 866
    I've never grown a magnolia, but what I do when something shrubby is past its best is take a cutting and start a new one.  Not sure how easily magnolias root, but that might be a possibility.  I would wait till any spring growth has firmed up a bit and then take cuttings from side-shoots in the summer.  Leave the old plant in place till you are pretty certain your cuttings are goers (probably spring 2025).  It's not a quick solution, but with luck you would end up with a nice young plant you could locate in a better position. 

    I think you are right that getting the current shrub to change direction at this stage is unlikely.  
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    It sounds like it is leaning into the light, so will always stretch in that direction. I like magnolias, so I'd keep it as they aren't always fast growers and they can take some time to flower. It will be up to you whether it's worth it but a choice between a magnolia and some grass, isn't much of a choice. 
  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    Oh, I agree @thevictorian, and it has had lovely flowers for years. But if it does impinge on the yard, OH will  be demanding its head. So I was hoping that someone on here might know how to prune it and how drastically it can be done without killing it. 

    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I agree with @thevictorian. They are such beautiful shrubs when in flower it would be such a shame to lose it up. My magnolia stellata, over 16 years or so old, also has a tendency to grow towards the south with low lying branches. I pruned one or two of the lowest ones right back to the trunk a couple of years, mainly so I could crawl underneath to weed! It didn't seem to mind, although one is advised not to prune magnolias if it can avoided. 
    To enhance marital harmony, I would suggest you do the same and prune the longest, most offending branches back to the trunk, making sure you make good, clean cuts with a sharp saw. If you do this every couple of years, cautiously and only one or two branches at the time, hopefully that will solve your problem.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    Your magnolia looks from its growth pattern of bushy rather than a single main trunk as if it might be a stellata of some kind. It is growing towards the light, so unless you clear everything out from the flat side it will continue to grow sideways. 
    Magnolias are large forest trees and slow growing, they dislike being pruned or moved so some careful judicious pruning may be the only solution to the problem or complete removal. If the shrubs near it are of little consequence I would have them out to allow all round light for the magnolia which in time could even up its growth..
  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    edited 16 January
    Thanks @Joyce Goldenlily , I think I might try replacing the other shrubs.
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    Magnolia are a large group of species and cultivars that differ massively in height. Most garden centre trees aren't much more than bushes in reality and it makes it hard to grow them as anything else, which I think is the problem here.
    If you are happy to remove the shrubs around it could you just divert the path around its back instead. I say that because I don't think it would fill out much, or very quickly, even if you clear the shrubs.
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