How To Prune Magnolia Trees [And When To Do So]

Magnolia trees can hit height of 80 feet or more in perfect growing consideration . They ’re often grown as cosmetic trees . Pruning them can help maintain their condition and keep them from being overcome with disease . If you are considering growing a magnolia tree diagram for the first clock time , you may be wonder when and how often to prune the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . In this post , we ’ve search the good pruning tactic to get the answers for you .

It ’s best to trim evergreen magnolia trees in the middle or late leaping after their bloom season ( which is mid - summer and belated autumn ) . On the other hand , deciduous magnolia trees should be pruned in late winter or early spring to cut back down the previous year ’s increment . Magnolias can be trimmed for aesthetic intention or to remove pathological or dead ramification .

Here are the steps to prune your magnolia tree :

There are different factors to weigh when it comes to how and when to clip your magnolia Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Throughout this post , we will talk about these factor and other variable quantity related to growth charge per unit and maintenance . Continue learn to learn more about magnolia tree prune and more !

When To Prune Magnolia Trees

While pruning magnolia tree can assist to keep them at a preferred shape , it is n’t needfully a task that must be do for the trees to stay on healthy . Most arborists recommend trim magnolia only as needed , as this plant does not cure as well as other plant do –meaning that too much clipping can harm the tree . As mentioned above , the best time to pare magnolias is after they flower , and when doing , so you only desire to crop a little amount of the tree . Here are a few token to note when it total to cut your Magnolia Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .

Regular Pruning

It ’s not a good idea to prune magnolia Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree on a regular basis , as they can develop water sprout . Water sprout are perpendicular shoots that bound up alongside the branch of the tree diagram . The sprouts drain energy from the tree and take up a lot of food . The branch tip of a magnolia tree rise back , creating the sprouts . If your tree has ice or tip scathe , it ’s in spades deserving pruning . But the tree does n’t need a routine pruning regimen .

Prune To Shape Young Trees

A young magnolia tree diagram can benefit more from pruning than an Old tree diagram –though it should still be limited . If you find that your young magnolia tree has many damaged , all in , or crossing limbs , you should snip it to help keep the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree goodish . Remember , magnolia tree diagram heal rather slowly , so pruning them while they are young can help the limb avoid attain bigger wound by and by on in the plant ’s life .

Controlling The Tree’s Size

If you recover that your magnolia tree is overgrown and in need of a bit of rejuvenation , the proficient sentence to do a major pruning is during the mid - summer . Pruning the tree in the early spring or late wintertime can cause the magnolia to bleed more – signify that you will regain a lot of sap flux from the tree if you cut back during this time . This is n’t necessarily a regretful thing . However , the dried sap on the tree ’s bark can take out from the tree ’s ingathering , relieve oneself it a minute unsightly . When you do prone the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , be sure to make the cut all the way back to the side of the arm and the main trunk to prevent water sprouts .

Steps To Prune Magnolia Trees

Things you ’ll need :

Assemble all of your pruning materials

duple - check to ensure that you have all of your pruning materials uncommitted and place them near the tree . This include trash pocketbook , paper towel , as well as your pruning shears .

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1. Disinfect your pruning shears

Always disinfect your pruning shears before apply them to your tree . The gentle way to do this is by taking a cotton swob and dousing it in rubbing alcohol . Rub the swab over the shear and give them a few seconds to dry out before pruning the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . You ’ll also want to disinfect the shears after your pruning academic session .

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2. Remove any deadwood at the tree’s trunk

set out cut back by cutting off any fifth wheel on the tree . You should recognize the woodwind instrument easy , as it will be brittle and lighter coloured than the rest of the Grant Wood . Deadwood typically wo n’t have any flowers or leaves growing from it . It ’s best to use lopping shears to take the fifth wheel if the branch are over an in thick . Either way , the deadwood should be cut off from the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree regardless of the branch size of it .

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3. Inspect the branches for disease

Next , inspect the offshoot of the magnolia tree for any sign of harm or disease . Typical signs include drooping branches , discolored bark or leaves , and decaying wood on the side of the tree . If the equipment casualty is only located on a few branches , only remove those arm down to the trunk .

You ’ll also want to match for any signs of fungus on the theme of the tree near the grass . Look for mushrooms , strange growth , or areas where the soil is especially thinned around the tree . If you note any disease - ridden area around the tree , you’re able to apply neem fossil oil or a antifungal to the region .

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4. Cut off branches that are too long

habituate a small hand or electric see to veer off any subdivision over two inches in diameter . When cutting the branches , be sure to cut at least 16 inches off from the trunk and about one - third of the way through the full arm . You ’ll also need to make an additional cutting at the top of the tree about one inch from the edge .

Be thrifty not to cut any salubrious branches from the tree incidentally ; only stick to ones that show signs of equipment casualty or disease . It can even help to rank a piece of mag tape on the damage branch before prune them so that you may commend which ones need to be removed .

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Quick tips for pruning Magnolia trees

Always prioritise pathologic and all in tree diagram branches over intelligent offset that may necessitate a trim . Oftentimes , removing the healthy branches from your magnolia Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree can do more damage than skilful . Also , never trim more than one - third of the intact Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree at once , or you will witness that your Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree may struggle to thrive the next blooming season .

It ’s always better to be bourgeois when trimming magnolia trees , as they are super - sore to pruning . Trimming too much can make the tree more susceptible to disease and melt off the tree ’s blossom capableness even temporarily . It ’s best to use formal tree diagram pruning shear for pocket-size cut of meat on the magnolia tree . For large subdivision , pruner shears will act best in addition to a hand or galvanic saw .

Do not prune your magnolia tree in the early spring or winter , and ensure to cleave to a post - bloom pruning regime if you prefer to keep your tree diagram in a sure design . If your magnolia tree has developed a disease , be sure to cover the disease effectively before pruning the tree diagram again , or you ’ll risk exacerbating its circumstance .

Magnolia Tree Tool Care

Since magnolia Tree are extremely sensitive to pruning , it ’s best to verify that you are admit adept charge of your pruning peter . Here are a couple of way of life to do this :

Ensure that you are making accurate cuts on your magnolia tree diagram , always hold back your pruning shears and pruning hook in the good workings precondition . habituate a sharpening stone or galvanizing sharpener to sharpen them before each pruning academic session ( or checker to see if they are already sharp enough beforehand ) . When work with electric saws , always keep replacing blade on deck just in case you damage one of the blade during pruning . you’re able to also have your dick professionally focalize at a local hardware computer storage .

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Not only should your pruning tools be as sharp as potential , but they should also be sanitized before and after economic consumption . You ’ll be surprised by how many fledgling gardeners neglect to right hygienise pruning tools and end up pay the terms afterwards on . It may seem like an incommodiousness , but the fact is that tool can easily become contaminate when they make contact with bacterium , fungi , virus , and other vulgar microorganisms found in or around trees . Not to mention that these microorganism can live on trim down tools for week and month .

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When you do n’t houseclean your tools , you re - stick in microorganisms to trees and plants with each pruning sitting . So be certain to keep a good supply of 70 % rubbing alcohol and or liquid bleach to keep your tool decent sanitized . Also , be certain to dilute the bleaching agent with at least eight role of water when clean your peter to preclude alloy corrosion .

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Can You Cut Back Magnolia Trees?

Yes . If your magnolia tree is growing too much , you may decidedly shave it down or cut it back to assist remold it or keep it from splatter out to the sidewalk or position of your garden . Start by take a good look at your magnolia tree diagram at a distance of about 20 feet . Look at the top of the tree and the side to determine surface area that may necessitate to be surmount back . Note these areas .

Begin trimming by slew any young branches from the lower parts of the tree . Also , look for minor branches that may spring up at odd angles or crisscross with other branch on the tree . Next , take a flavor at more well - established branches that are extending further than other branches . Remove these branches using an electric or hired hand saw . After you have complete your trimming session , step back from the tree and face at it again to scrutinise the final result .

Do Magnolia Trees Bloom Twice A Year?

Yes . However , it depends on the diverseness of the magnolia tree . These Tree can bloom anytime between February and June . Evergreen southerly magnolia trees are acknowledge for their bi - one-year flush , which hap in the recent spring and summer .

Can You Keep A Magnolia Tree Small?

Absolutely . Magnolia Tree do n’t reach their full potential until they ’re around 10 years one-time . If you prefer to keep your magnolia tree in more of a chaparral - alike state , you may simply keep it trimmed . Keep in mind that this will need vigilant pruning , which is not always sluttish . It ’s best to start by deciding on a conformation and stick to a regular pruning regimen to keep the tree belittled . you may also plant the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in an area away from lineal sunlight to assist stagnate its growth a bit .

Wrapping Things Up

In comparison to other tree , Magnolia tree do n’t require major pruning session to thrive . Exceptions that would require pruning include legal injury from storm , wind , or branches that have grown too long or have become invading . We hope that this mail has supply you with the information you were looking for refer how and when to prune your magnolia tree .

Before you go , be sure to check out our other Post :

How Long Do Magnolia Trees Live ?

16 Types Of Magnolia Trees