You planted the star magnolia years ago. But now the fun is over. It's not growing as expected. In addition, a strong storm raged and some branches snapped. Time for a cut!

Cutting is not absolutely necessary

Since the star magnolia is usually slow-growing, it takes time for it to get out of shape. It usually has a beautiful growth by nature. Therefore, a cut is not always necessary. She manages well without making the acquaintance of the pruning shears…

Yes, but carefully

If you want to cut your star magnolia, you should not cut it too radically. She doesn't tolerate a radical cut. It would be best to just thin them out. This can happen every two to four years.

Caution: Young star magnolias in particular can quickly be damaged by cutting too hard. In addition, severe pruning often leads to holes in the plant. It doesn't like to sprout again on old branches… So refrain from such a cut.

When can the star magnolia be cut?

The best time to prune is right after the star magnolia has bloomed. It blooms between March and April. The pruning should ideally be carried out in June - when there is no longer any frost.

Correct cutting - a guide

You should proceed as follows:

  • Sharpen and disinfect pruning shears or saw
  • Cut directly at the base of the branch (do not leave any stubs)
  • remove crossing shoots
  • Remove inward growing branches
  • Cut away diseased and lazy branches completely
  • Remove competitive instincts to the main stem
  • Remove water shoots (steep shoots).
  • leave three to five scaffold shoots
  • coat large cuts with tree wax (12.96€).

Cut to propagate

A good side benefit of pruning is gaining potential cuttings. With these, the star magnolia can be multiplied well. After the cuttings are rooted in the pot, they can be transplanted outdoors in May.

tips and tricks

It's important not to use blunt scissors or saws to trim the star magnolia. Unclean cut edges increase the risk of pathogens settling in the wood.

Category:

Trees