How to Trim a Saucer Magnolia Bush

The saucer magnolia, or Magnolia x soulangiana, is a fast growing magnolia tree that can reach up to 25 feet tall. The lovely fragrant blossoms are white with a pink interior and open in late winter. You'll want to clean up the blossoms after they fall to prevent them from rotting into the ground. Once the blossoms have dropped is the best time to trim your saucer magnolia bush. The saucer magnolia can be grown in hardiness zones 5 to 9, or throughout most of the United States.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears

Instructions

1. Inspect the branches of your saucer magnolia tree for damage or disease. Remove diseased branches by snipping them off at their intersection with the main branch.

2. Dispose of all diseased branches far from your magnolia tree so as not to spread bacteria or fungus. Disinfect your pruning shears by spraying them with a 1:10 solution of bleach:water.

3. Clip off dead branches at their intersection with the main branch. Trim off low-hanging or downward-growing branches so that you can safely walk underneath the tree's canopy.

4. Thin out the interior canopy of the saucer magnolia, paying special attention to areas that are crowded. You'll want to remove branches that are rubbing against other branches, since the friction will cause one of them to snap and potentially damage the tree.

5. Perform any shaping cuts. Trim back branches that are growing too fast and give the magnolia bush a nice shape overall.

Tips & Warnings

• Saucer magnolia bushes are sensitive to frost. If you encounter a cold spell in spring, your bush might not bloom that year.

References

• US Forest Service: Saucer Magnolia
• Floridata: Saucer Magnolia