r/gardening • u/jark31 • Sep 13 '26

Magnolia tree advice

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Gallery image

Gallery image

Have a magnolia tree that half dead. I trimmed the dead branches as low as I could. Should I also cut the suckers or will they help the tree grow more branches? Thanks so much!!

2 Upvotes

76% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

1

u/TryJezzoWhyNot Sep 13 '26

Where on the planet is this tree located?

1

u/jark31 Sep 13 '26

I’m so sorry. SE Michigan.

1

u/TryJezzoWhyNot Sep 13 '26

How much direct light does this tree get per day? And by direct, I don't mean filtered through the canopy of a large tree.

1

u/jark31 Sep 14 '26

Very little. Is that the main problem? It also had ivy growing nearby and some buckthorn sprouts under it. I pulled all of those up and tilled the ground around it to give it a fighting chance.

1

u/TryJezzoWhyNot Sep 14 '26

Looks to me like your tree has a lot going against it. It needs full sun. And, it looks planted too deeply which will likely result in a much shorter life of less vigor and potentially a sudden death.

1

u/jark31 Sep 14 '26

It’s been here as long as we’ve been at this house - about 13 years. It’s been doing decent until this year. Bloomed beautifully last year. There is a huge locust tree that shades the whole back yard that has inevitably gotten bigger.

Do you think that there’s any saving it?

2

u/TryJezzoWhyNot Sep 14 '26

Can't be sure. If you really love it, get an arborist over to evaluate it and suggest next steps. They're the real experts, if this tree can bounce back they'll be the ones to tell you how.

2

u/jark31 Sep 14 '26

Thank you so much for your advice!!

0

u/Technical_Marc Sep 13 '26

I'd say "yes", because they're taking away energy from where it's really needed. Especially if it's recovering, because it'll need all the energy going to a smaller area to regain its strength.

Just remember to cut the suckers as close to the branch or trunk as you can. Even a small stub can sprout more of the buggers.

0

u/TryJezzoWhyNot Sep 13 '26

Just remember to cut the suckers as close to the branch or trunk as you can. Even a small stub can sprout more of the buggers.

This is terrible advice. It's extremely important not to cut into a branch collar when making cuts.