Ideally, you want to prune magnolia trees the right way so that there is no risk of diseases.
Pruning magnolias is necessary if you need them trained against a wall. But, in most cases, they do not require much trimming. Pruning them the correct way, however, is of utmost importance, and I'm going to explain why.
Read ahead to find out when is the best time to prune magnolia trees.
It is generally recognized that it is not that important to prune magnolia trees at all. But, if you are anything like me, arranging and shaping the trees is a must for all trees in the garden. Plus, shaping and pruning magnolia trees while they are young ensure that they grow up looking delightful and pleasing to look at.
Trimming any tree, including magnolias, will improve the health of the tree and help with better blooms during flowering seasons. However, it is important to prune correctly when they are younger because the trees find it easier to develop and grow back during their growth phase.
If you start pruning them too late, the poor mature trees may not be able to handle the branch wounds and may get infected. Once infected, it is usually challenging to get rid of it, and it might be fatal for the plant in question.
In general, magnolias do not recover easily from bruises and cuts from pruning. They are prone to diseases; thus, one needs to be careful when pruning magnolias.
It may so happen that you may not need to prune the tree at all. Yet, it's important to know the time of the year that will give you the best results for pruning magnolias. You can trim young magnolia trees in mid-spring and sometimes during late spring. This is the season when the gorgeous flowers have already come into bloom.
I suggest sticking to this timeline for pruning magnolias for a very good reason. If you prune the magnolia tree after spring, it might hinder the correct growth of the tree for the next year. If you trim too late, you'll end up cutting the small new buds that form for the next year's flowering.
If these buds are trimmed, you won't get to enjoy next year's flowers during the flowering season. Also, it is crucial to prune only small amounts at a time. Going overboard on pruning every year will not allow the tree to grow to its full height, and the tree may end up too short.
Of course, if one of the branches seems to be hanging dangerously low or you think they might fall, it's necessary to trim them at any time. However, if your main reason for pruning is to bring shape and structure, make sure to get trimming right after the blooms appear.
Use sharpened loppers or pruners to make cuts on the branches that need removal. I make it a point to disinfect the tool with alcohol (ethanol/isopropyl alcohol) so that there is no scope of infection through them.
Check the tree for dead branches and remove them first. If you suspect any branch has developed an infection, remove that section immediately. Then continue your inspection for any haphazard growth like two branches facing each other and looking unshapely. Trim any one of these branches so that the tree appears neat and orderly.
The best thing you can do is make clean cuts to keep the magnolia tree's health and appearance intact. If you cut only halfway and decide to pull apart the rest, it may end up removing a part of the bark. And, that won't look as good in the garden.
Magnolia tree owners will unanimously agree that evergreen magnolias should be left alone as much as possible. This is because they may not react well to pruning, so take out only small amounts if you need to.
To keep them in shape, you can trim the lower branches so that one clear trunk is visible. Otherwise, trim the dead and damaged branches so that the magnolia tree continues to look fresh.
These tips will help you out the next time you need to prune a magnolia tree. But before signing off, I want to help you with one last tip - disinfect your tools after pruning a diseased branch so that the infection does not spread.
That's all for today, bye!
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