I have about a 40' southern magnolia that I had to trim the lower branches which had overgrown the walking path at my new house. The branches had already reached the ground and started up again. I didnt cut the larger growth all the way back, just removed the smaller branches/leaves to open up the Area and allow a little sunlight to reach the ground I'm a little concerned that I ended up taking too much off. What if anything can I do to keep this tree healthy?
You can safely remove up to 25 percent of the foliage in a single pruning. If you've left behind virtually bare branches it's probably best to cut them off near the trunk. Make sure you allow the branch collar to remain to aid in healing the wound. While it's unpopular to allow branches to touch the ground it's the appropriate style of growth for the tree if you have the room.
