When to Prune a Magnolia Tree

Magnolias are an incredibly beautiful flowering tree, and if you live in the southern part of the United States, you're probably used to seeing them all over the place. Although some people prefer to allow their magnolias to grow and spread unchecked, you'll get far more life--and prettier blossoms--out of your magnolia if you prune it regularly. The magnolia family includes more than 80 types of shrubs and trees, and is indigenous to North America. Some varieties bloom in the spring, before leaves have fully developed, and others flower during the summer.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Magnolia tree
• Sturdy gardening gloves
• Pruning shears

When to Prune a Magnolia Tree

1. Understand the growing pattern of the magnolia. Pruning should only be done on younger, immature trees. A mature magnolia should not be pruned at all because big cuts will not heal as well and can lead to damage.

2. Prune your young magnolia in the late spring to early summer, after the flowers have bloomed. If you wait until too late into the summer, you'll be cutting off next year's potential blooms.

3. Trim off deadwood if necessary. Avoid cutting into live growth. If a branch is hitting a power line or structure, be sure to consult with a qualified tree maintenance company about how to best trim the individual species of magnolia. Again, pruning should be done at the height of summer, after flowering has completed. Don't wait until fall.

4. Keep it conservative. If you really have to prune your magnolia, only cut off what you have to, and leave as much as possible.

Tips & Warnings

• Some species of magnolias lose a lot of flowers to spring frosts. You can avoid this by planting them in a spot that doesn't have southern exposure.
• Magnolias are slow growers. Cutting one back too far while it's young can drastically affect flowering for years to come.