I want to turn my evergreen magnolia into a shrub with some judicial pruning. At the moment it's about 2 metres high and that is as high as I want it to stay. There are some flowers on it and new wood on many of the branches. I have a couple of questions - Do I prune it now as we head into winter? and when I do prune it do I cut that new wood?
If it is looks like you are trying to Bonzai the poor thing. These grow big some varieties to 27 meters. Do you know which type you have? We have one called "Little Gem" (in Aust.) and even that can get very large. They say suitable for large gardens. This might help but it seems to be for decidious ones "Pruning is not necessary, although you can prune to reduce the size of your magnolia. Pruning removes flowering wood, reducing flowering the following season. " http://www.bestgardening.com/bgc/plant/magnolia01.htm Liz
You can prune an evergreen Magnolia to maintain the shape and keep the tree within desired size constraints if that is what you really want. You will lose some of the flowering ability of the tree for a while until the tree develops some new wood to it. A lot depends on how much wood you want to take off the tree as if the tree is the desired height now and you want it to become more compact in shape, then prune the head back to the shape you want it to be now. Allow time for the tree to come back with new growth to emerge from below where the pruning cuts were made and pinch the new growth back if the new shoots become too vigorous. Pruning is best done during the growing season. Can be pruned in the Fall if need be with Winter pruning the least best option. Jim
Thanks Jim and Liz. It is still autumn here so will give a go at pruning around the top. It is a grandiflora and I know that it can grow into an enormous tree - I have about 20 others on my property that I'm letting go 'au naturel'. But, did you mean that I just cut where there is new wood Jim? That's what I was worried about.
But, did you mean that I just cut where there is new wood Jim? That's what I was worried about. I don't know how you can work around not cutting or at least pinching back some of the new growth to keep this tree at or near the desired height you want it to be. Ideally you would pinch back the new growth on the top back to about 3-5 leaves all the way around. Don't prune off all of the new top growth back to old wood if you can help it. Let the new growth emerge from your cuts and then pinch back any new overly vigorous growth. No matter how you want to work it you will lose the potential for the wood on top of the tree to produce flower buds for you. Your hope once you limit top growth is that the tree will become fuller due to new growth which will enable more flower bud formation down lower on the tree but the top as long as you pinch the new growth back could very well be devoid of flowers for some time. Jim
