Magnolias are beautiful shrubs that can degenerate in growth. If you want to cut them back, there are a few things to consider.
Magnolias are beautiful shrubs that can grow several meters tall over the years. To keep the magnolia from getting too big and spreading, you should cut and shorten it from time to time.
In principle, you don't have to cut back the magnolia every year. This may be mandatory for other plants, but not for the magnolia, because it grows very slowly. If at all, you should only use the scissors to preserve the natural growth habit. Since a magnolia grows with several skeletal shoots, it can quickly happen that these are very close together. If this is the case, they push each other up until they have enough space to spread out. And that's exactly why some plants literally explode. You can only use pruning shears to get the magnolia back in shape.
A little tip:
If you want, you can take cuttings while pruning and thus multiply the magnolia.
Always cut magnolias with caution and restraint
If you want to get your magnolia back in shape, which is usually only necessary every three to five years, it is best to only use the pruning shears after flowering. Depending on the variety, this time should be at the end of June or beginning of July. Then take a pair of sharp and freshly disinfected pruning shears and get to work. You must:
- Remove dead and diseased shoots
- Cut off competing shoots to the main stem
- Remove inward and crossing branches
- lightly trim the crown
You can also redirect longer shoots to lower ones. This gives the plant more light and forms new flowering shoots. In any case, it is always important that you cut the branches directly at the trunk. Because the magnolia has a wound-healing mechanism that thickens and closes the bark around the cut surface if you cut the branch close enough to the trunk. Good wound care is essential to prevent diseases from developing. Tree wax is suitable for this:
Radical pruning only in exceptional cases
Your magnolia will not forgive you for a radical pruning. On the one hand you will then be punished with curious runners and on the other hand with a very slow-growing magnolia. You may only carry out such a radical pruning in exceptional cases. For example, if a storm has caused great damage to the magnolia. Then proceed as follows:
Cut the scaffold shoots to three to a maximum of five shoots. This number is completely sufficient. With strong and thick branches, on the other hand, you have to leave a little more. Also remove shoots that are crossing or growing inwards. Then you have to have a lot of patience, because it can take a while for the magnolia to grow back into a stately bush. In addition, if you make a radical pruning in the following year, you will have to forego flowering.
By the way:
If you grow magnolias in pots, you should know that you must not cut them back. If anything, it's best to just cut off dead branches.