Star magnolia: when and how to prune

Star magnolia: when to prune it?

JFMAMJJASOND

Hardly ever needed. If you must prune, do it in June–July, when the shrub is in leaf.

What else to prune in those months? June · July

Star magnolia: how to prune it?

1. Remove dead, damaged and crossing branches.
2. Cut an over-long branch back to a side branch, never halfway along a branch.
3. On a congested shrub, take out one or two whole branches rather than shortening every stem.

How much to cut, and how often?

• One pruning period a year: June–July.
• Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.

What does it mean for wildlife?

• Pruning in June–July can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
• Star magnolia flowers in March–April, when it attracts bees.
• Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.

Common mistakes

• Clipping without first checking for nesting birds.
• Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.

Nearby: related pruning guides

• Magnolia
• Mulan magnolia (Magnolia liliiflora)
• Cucumber tree
• Oyama magnolia (Magnolia sieboldii)
• Southern magnolia
• Barberry

Plant profile: Star magnolia · Pruning calendar and basic rules