skip to main content

To cut back or not to cut back?

8 years ago

The past two winters have been hard on my Southern Magnolia tree, practically killing the tree (many people told me it was dead). I did not give up on it and taking some advice from the person who planted it 15 years ago, I cut back some of the branches at the bottom thinking it would send energy, food etc to the top of the tree, as the tree did not leaf out like it normally would have in the spring and certainly looked completely dead. My tree guy actually told me to cut all of the branches back, and in retrospect I think I should have taken his advice. The area that I cut back has come back big and bushy, the area I left alone looks dead.

I am thinking of doing the same to the top. Is the fall a good time to cut back or should I wait until Spring? Any thoughts on saving this once beautiful tree would be helpful!

Thanks in advance.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
not a great pic.. but the whole top looks dead... cut it down ...

the only question is ... was it a grafted cultivar... and what you might have growing from the bottom, if it was ...

be nice to know where you are ... to discuss whether it is zone appropriate... if 2 winters in a row knocked it back ...

there is also the issue if it was a recent large transplant ...

there is never any real reason.. to leave a dead.. or mostly dead piece of wood there... take the dead part down.. and it will improve the look of the rest of it.. 100% ...

ken
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
8 years ago
Time for a replacement tree.
Related Discussions
Cut back all at once or in sections?
Q
Comments (5)
If a plant needs deadheading or cutting back, I just do it all at once, I have neither the time nor the desire to be out there fiddling with plants constantly. They'll be fine - they're plants, they want to grow. Now, that doesn't mean I hack back unjudiciously - different plants are handled in different ways. For example, I know that G. magnificum will not re-bloom yet I want a tight mound of foliage, so right after blooming I just hack them all back right down to the ground, I just have at it, quick and to the point - I know from experience they will quickly sprout new foliage. Something that won't rebloom but needs to be cut carefully for shape, such as a tree peony, needs to have each cut thought about carefully, just as one would hand-prune any shrub - how it is cut determines the shape for the rest of the reason. Plants that offer re-bloom, something like a salvia, a veronica, a rose, etc. I trace back to an appropriate point to cut to encourage new stem growth and bloom - again, takes more time because the cuts are made on an individual basis as opposed to a whack-down. So, really, the in-season pruning/deadheading is determined by what the plant is - but when I go out there to do it, it gets done, none of that a little bit now, a little bit later. But hey, if you want to experiment and have the time - it can be a good learning experience. :0)
...See More
Prune, cut back, or leave alone
Q
Comments (10)
Sammy, You could just try different pruning techniques on your roses and see what works in your garden. I've visited gardens in California and had friends from California visit my garden. The comment they kept making about my roses is how "huge" they were and they didn't recognize roses in my garden that they grew in their own. I had already "pruned" the roses twice that year by 1/3 that they thought were "huge". From comments here and my own observation, I think roses grow bigger, faster, here and they tolerate pruning very well. My roses are healthy, beautiful bushes and they get pruned, as I said, twice a year. There's no "ideal" or "right" way to prune roses that works for everyone in every climate. It all depends on where you live and how you want your roses and garden to look. I love Gregg beyond all reason and I've seen his garden and it is lovely, but he lives in a totally different climate. I also didn't recognize roses in his garden that I grow in my own :-). Amazing how different the same rose can grow in different area's. You can certainly choose the "no prune" method and see if it works for you. You can also try pruning the roses and see how that works for you. I promise you won't hurt the roses either way. I've done both and I do what works best in my garden. Don't stress yourself over it. No matter how you prune them they will be fine. Carol
...See More
how far to cut back in summer?
Q
Comments (5)
Thank you for the comments. I've never had an overly zealous climatis before. My first frost comes early, end of Sept.or early Oct. Guess I'll need to hold back a bit on the trim job then? -- his brothers are the same age and they are gently falling over the fence on the same side. Anyway I can see him from my kitchen window and he rather demands ones attention. An obviously male trait...
...See More
Cut back struggling transplanted hydrangeas
Q
Comments (2)
Thanks. That was my gut instinct, as it is difficult to tell what is still living. Some branches that looked dead actually had new growth sprouting further up the plant that I didn't notice until I'd already cut it off. Any idea what variety they might be? Or are they too sickly to ID?
...See More
tlbean2004
8 years ago
What cultivar is that? they certainly should live longer than 15 years. it is hardy to your zone?
ruff78
8 years ago
I would take it out and replace it with something more cold hardy.
Kevin Kelly
Original Author
8 years ago
Not sure what the Cultivar is - This tree was growing and healthy for 13 years, but in the NorthEast the last two winters have been brutal. There are plenty of Magnolia trees in the area. The whole tree looked like the top until I cut back the bottom and as you can see, there has been plenty of new growth. There is some new branches starting to grow out of the top half of the tree as well.
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
8 years ago
Your tree is unfortunately not what I woukd call cold hardy for your area. Only a capitalistic nursery or one with a higher expectation for the effects of global warning would label it as such.

It did fine for awhile and had a nice shape.
Logan L. Johnson
8 years ago
cut it down it should grow back I had a cherry tree that did similar I have also seen the same thing with crepe myrtle when people let the suckers grow

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES 7 Ecofriendly Gardening Ideas That Also Cut Chore Time

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Spend less time weeding, less money watering and more moments just sitting back and enjoying your healthy garden

FLOWERS Best Cutting-Garden Beauties for Late Summer

By Paintbox Garden

Pick blooms bursting with color or in classic white for bouquets to give away or keep all to yourself

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen Counters: Try an Integrated Cutting Board for Easy Food Prep

By Christine Tusher

Keep knife marks in their place and make dicing and slicing more convenient with an integrated butcher block or cutting board

KITCHEN DESIGN Butcher Block Makes the Cut for Holiday Kitchen Prep

Countertops and cutting boards will likely take a beating over the holidays. These butcher blocks have the chops to perform under pressure

PRODUCT PICKS Guest Picks: Chop Chop! 20 Cutting Boards Too Good to Miss

By Add a Pinch | Robyn Stone

Any way you slice it, these cutting boards, chopping blocks and serving boards are both artful and practical

DIY PROJECTS Cutting Corners: Miters Spruce Up Woodworking Projects

These basic woodworking cuts add another dimension to simple corners

DECORATING GUIDES On Trend: Cut It Out With Norwegian Seating

By Mari Richards

You may find these nipped-out chairs extra full of modern style and comfort, thanks to their savvy designs

HOME OFFICES Quiet, Please! How to Cut Noise Pollution at Home

By Christine Ciarmello

Leaf blowers, trucks or noisy neighbors driving you berserk? These sound-reduction strategies can help you hush things up

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Is Your Garden Cut Out for Matisse Inspiration?

Look to the artist’s paper collages for a creative and easy approach to garden design

ACCESSORIES Easy Green: Cut Electricity Use With 15 Unplugged Home Devices

By Laura Gaskill

Crank up the energy savings, courtesy of household items that come into power the old-fashioned way: manually

Sponsored

Fresh Pointe Studio

4 Reviews

Industry Leading Interior Designers & Decorators | Delaware County, OH

More Discussions

Pink dogwood with buck damage

2

Huge black maple in Michigan

4

Our oak tree seems to be slowly dying, what can we do?

9

Tree trimming suggestions

2

Sassafras Foliar Peculiarity

9