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What should I do with my Flump-Monster?

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I have this beautiful magnolia in my front garden, it's in full bloom and i love it. I've nicknamed it "the Flump-Monster" though as it kind of flumps on the ground. I'd like the shape to be more like a tree, with fewer branches near the ground and also the top a bit more even, it's very lopsided. 

It was here when we moved in 10 years ago, i have touched it and is grown from about 6' tall to its current size (about 12') in that time. 

Can I shape it? And if so, when should I do this?  

 

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138

    I think it's beautiful as it is image 

    One of the wonderful characteristics of some magnolias is the asymmetry of their growth - that's why they look so wonderful in Japanese gardens and paintings where asymmetry is prized. 

    If you cut it back you run the danger of it looking like a frilly loo brush.

    I'd enjoy it as it is and accentuate the asymmetry and the Japanese style of the garden - perfect with the architecture of your house image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • GardenmaidenGardenmaiden Posts: 1,126

    If you don't like the lower branches, I would remove the smaller ones near the ground, but I wouldn't touch any of the others. You never see any tidy pruned magnolias even in show gardens.

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