Unless they have put more than one seedling in a pot, which isn't likely, you are dealing with one tree that has been cut back to create multiple trunks, as Alabamatreehugger has said. Even if there were 5-7 trees together, by this time, the roots would be well intertwined, and would NOT be happy to be disentangled from each other. Dividing can work for perennials, or if you had planted a bunch of tree seeds in a pot and then dealt with the babies at a few inches tall, but most semi-mature trees won't do it. Suckering shrubs maybe, but that's not what you are dealing with here. I can appreciate your wanting the shape that you want and the number of trees that you want, but I don't think this is how you will get it. Keep looking..... HOWEVER if they aren't too much money, so you wouldn't mind too much if it/they died, it MIGHT be worth buying one and trying. I think I would wait until fall or early winter to "operate", when the tree won't be actively growing and will be as dormant as they get, so you may need to pot this one on to a larger pot over the summer. Carefully removing the soil from the root ball (try using a water spray), at least at the top, would let you see what the trunk/root system really looked like, and then you could make up your mind if this is at all feasible. Since you do have experience dividing plants, I think it would be up to you to decide. They MIGHT all die, and they MIGHT live, I wouldn't want to say for sure. If it were me, and I really wanted this, and couldn't find what I did want, AND it weren't too much money, I think I would have a go - experimentation is how you learn more after all.

what kind of patio ... ken

Hi all, I m looking for a Magnolia tree/shrub to plant in my frontyard. It should be small since I don t have that much space. I saw a Magnolia Centennial which looks great and is hardy to my zone. Does anyone have this shrub and how do they like it?? If you have recommendations for any other Magnolias that will do well in my zone please let me know. I don t care about the colour: I only need it to be smallish and smell great. When would be a good time to plant it? S

I did propagate saucer magolia by air-layering. You can start air-layering after the leaves appear in the springand active plant growth starts. To be sure, allow 8 weeks for rooting before cutting from the mother plant. You can pot it for the first summer. In the fall, bury the pot up to the rim and put some mulch over the plant for winter protection. In spring you can plant it in ground so it will have full summer to root in the ground. You can google for air-layering techniques. It is simple.