Cutting the evergreen magnolia »How to do it right

Evergreen magnolia grows very slowly

On the one hand, this is due to the fact that the Immergüne magnolia grows only very slowly - under good conditions the tree can manage around 30 centimeters per year, but the growth is usually significantly lower. In addition, this type of magnolia branches very little, which is why a cut very quickly creates holes that will never close again. The tendency of the evergreen magnolia to grow both in height and in width over the years should already be when planting be observed - the tree needs a lot of space around itself and does not tolerate competing plantings.

Careful pruning only every three to five years

Due to the tendency of the magnolia not to sprout again from cut back parts or To develop unsightly spider veins, pruning should actually only be done if it is unavoidable. Reasons for this can be

• Lack of space (this can be prevented by carefully selecting the location)
• Damage from storm and other weather influences
• Fungal and other diseases
• an unfavorable / undesirable growth

If you want to achieve a certain growth habit, you can carry out a careful and carefully planned pruning about every three to five years. Storm damage as well as damage caused by illnesses should, however, be eliminated immediately.

The right time for a maintenance cut

The right time for a caring pruning is clearly the time after flowering. Never cut before flowering (for example in early spring, as is sometimes recommended), otherwise you will remove the flower buds and the flower will fail.

Cut the evergreen magnolia

Since magnolias - and of course the evergreen magnolia - can get fungal infections very quickly, you should always work with freshly sharpened and sterile tools. When cutting, do the following:

• Don't leave stumps standing; always cut branches and twigs directly from the trunk!
• This is where the magnolia can best close its wounds,
• In addition, the spider veins are mainly formed from branch stumps that have been left standing.
• Remove steeply growing competing shoots from the main trunk.
• Carefully thin out the crown by cutting away intersecting shoots.