Magnolia Trimming Time ?

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by HarryS, Nov 26, 2011.

  1. HarryS

    HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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    I have a 5 year old Magnolia Susan , which is now just over 7 feet tall . I would like to trim it back to keep it at 6 to 7 feet . I understand that Magnolias should only be trimmed when necessary , but the timing advice I have read for this is confusing :scratch: Should I trim it back in mid winter or late summer , or indeed some other time ?

    TIA
     
  2. Bilbo675

    Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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    • HarryS

      HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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      Cheers Bilbo , looks like straight after flowering is the best time to trim it to size :dbgrtmb:
       
    • HYDROGEN86

      HYDROGEN86 Head Gardener

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      Hi Harry.
      I bought a magnolia Susan from morrisons for a fiva back in April. It's about two maybe three foot tall now and has lost all of It's leaves. Do I need to cut it back with it being so small? Also I just wanted to check with you they do loose there leaves in winter?....never had one before :scratch:
       
    • Bilbo675

      Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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      Hi, almost all Magnolias prefer not ot be pruned, other than removal of crossing branches, and dead/weak growth, obviously after a few years pruning may be required and the link above offers help on that, for a young one like you describe it shouldn't be necessary.

      Most Magnolias are deciduous but there are evergreen species that are normally grown as wall shrubs and pruned and trained up a wall; M.grandiflora being the usual one.

      Hope this helps :thumb:
       
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      • HYDROGEN86

        HYDROGEN86 Head Gardener

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        Thanks pal been meaning to ask that for ages I just forgot about it once it lost It's leaves. Should i expect mine to flower or not next year? It is in a pot atm
        Sorry if I'm hijacking your thread Harry :yess:
         
      • Bilbo675

        Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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        Hard to say if it will flower next year?, I planted one in my sisters garden that was about 2ft tall and it flowered the next year, only 3 flowers but flowers none the less.

        As the winter progresses keep an eye on it for any buds that look larger than the others, these will probably be young flower buds.

        Also, if you're going to plant in to the ground, try and get it right first time because Magnolias dislike being moved.
         
      • HarryS

        HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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        It's no problem joining the Magnolia thread Hydro' ! As Bilbo summed up your M. Susan should be losing or lost its leaves around now and should flower early next year before the leaves form . Mine has taken the form of a small tree with just removing a couple of lower branches. I have never trimmed it - as they do not like being pruned , that's why I was asking advice on it. I really do like it when it is in leaf , it's a cracking choice :dbgrtmb:
         
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