Well-timed trimming keeps these beautiful plants blooming and healthy.
But exactly when to prune varies according to the bang out of magnolia you have.
Most types are low-maintenance, but once in a while they may need a little pruning.
Credit: Janet Loughrey
Some are deciduous, meaning they drop their leaves for the winter, and some are evergreen.
Thesepruning rulesare based on when each of these magnolias flowers.
Hardy inUSDA Zones 610,Southern magnolia(Magnolia grandiflora) does everything in a big way.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
It can reach 60 to 80 feet tall and it has enormouswhite flowersthat can reach a foot in diameter.
It grows symmetrically, so little pruning is needed.
If you do need to trim this evergreen, wait until it finishes blooming in summer.
Credit: Janet Mesic-Mackie
Its pretty flowers appear in spring, so time any pruning for after the blooms have faded.
Once this deciduous tree has maturedat about 20 years oldprune as little as possible, because it heals slowly.
Sweetbay magnolia(Magnolia virginiana) doesn’tbloom until the summer.
Credit: Denny Schrock
you should probably catch this one at the end of the winter, before its growth spurt.
With young magnolias, make cuts with pruning shears.
