Magnolia tree pruning advice and tree work service. Pro Climb was recently contacted by a client who had a mature magnolia tree in their garden. The mature magnolia tree was getting out of shape and required urgent attention. The magnolia tree was one of the largest trees at the property and created a focal point in the garden. Unfortunately, due to its unkempt appearance it was a focal point for all the wrong reasons. The client was hoping we would be able to bring the tree back under control so that it was an asset to the surrounding garden.
The mature tree owner needed urgent Magnolia tree pruning advice
The garden in which the tree was situated had a formal appearance with many of the trees and shrubs being topiarized. It was clear that the garden received regular maintenance and really added to the overall appearance of the property. The magnolia tree however was too large for the gardener to maintain and had been left unpruned for some time. Due to its manicured surroundings, the magnolia stood out like a sore thumb and undid much of the hard work that had been administered to the rest of the garden. After consulting with the client, it was decided to topiarize the magnolia too, on a somewhat larger scale than the other shrubs, so that it sat well in its environment.
Magnolia grandiflora are evergreen with thick waxy leaves.
The dense foliage blocks light to the inner canopy. This in turn means that the majority of the foliage is concentrated to the outside of the canopy where light can penetrate leaving the inner canopy bare. This creates a limitation when pruning, as to be able to leave a tree that is aesthetically pleasing afterwards only a small percentage of the canopy can be removed in one go. If too much is taken the tree is left bare and disfigured. The client was keen to reduce the size of the tree if possible, so it was advised that to do this would take several pruning cycles; allowing for new internal shoots to sprout in-between prunes as more light entered the inner canopy.
Magnolia tree pruning was carried out using hand tools in the form of secateurs and a pruning saw.
This method ensured that the leaves were not left with unsightly cuts that a hedge trimmer would have caused, and that pruning wounds would heal quickly. Access was mad via a mixture of climbing and the use of a large set of orchard ladders. Working the canopy from the outside helped to create a more even finish which was important for the final look in this situation.
The initial pruning went well and the tree looks much more at home in its environment. The tree will now be left to grow before the next stage of pruning takes place. Over time it is hoped the tree can be molded into a pear shape which is favoured by the client.
For more information about topiary visit https://www.topiaryarts.com/tips-techniques/cutting-shaping. Tree work provided to Victoria Avenue in Remuera, Auckland NZ. For more tree care advice be sure to request our tree survey reports service here >
