The evergreen magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is a very impressive tree, reaching heights of up to 25 meters or more, which also tends to grow quite sprawling and wide. The plant is particularly impressive during the flowering period, when its pure white flowers, which are up to 45 centimeters wide, create a fragrant sea of flowers. Like all magnolias, the evergreen magnolia should have little exposure to secateurs.
How do you properly prune an evergreen magnolia?
Answer: When cutting an evergreen magnolia, you should proceed carefully immediately after flowering, always work with sterile tools and remove branches from the trunk. Avoid stubs, remove annoying competing shoots and crossing shoots, and seal cut surfaces with fungicidal tree wax.
Evergreen magnolia grows very slowly
On the one hand, this is because the evergreen magnolia grows very slowly - in good conditions, the tree grows around 30 centimeters per year, but the growth is usually significantly lower. In addition, this type of magnolia branches very little, which is why cutting it quickly creates holes that will never close again. The evergreen magnolia's tendency to grow both in height and width over the years should be taken into account when planting - the tree needs a lot of space around itself and does not tolerate competitive planting.
Careful pruning only every three to five years
Due to the magnolia's tendency not to sprout again from cut-back parts or to develop unsightly spider veins, pruning should actually only be done if it is unavoidable. Reasons for this may be
- Lack of space (but this can be prevented by carefully selecting a location)
- Damage caused by storms and other weather influences
- Fungal and other diseases
- an unfavorable / undesirable growth
If you want to achieve a specific growth habit, you can carry out careful and carefully planned pruning about every three to five years. However, storm damage and damage caused by illness should be repaired immediately.
The right time for a grooming cut
The right time for a caring pruning is clearly the time after flowering. Under no circumstances should you prune before flowering (e.g. in early spring, as is sometimes recommended), otherwise you will remove the flower buds and the flower will fail.
Cutting evergreen magnolia
Since magnolias - and of course the evergreen magnolia - contract fungal infections very quickly, you should always work with freshly sharpened and sterile tools. When cutting, proceed as follows:
- Do not leave any stubs standing, but always cut off branches and twigs directly at the trunk!
- This is the best place for the magnolia to close its wounds,
- In addition, the spider veins mainly form from left standing branch stubs.
- Remove steeply growing shoots that compete with the main trunk.
- Carefully thin out the crown by cutting away crossing shoots.
Tip
If possible, seal the cut surfaces with a fungicidal (mushroom-killing) tree wax (€13.00 on Amazon), then these pathogens have no chance!
