Pruning Young Magnolia Rustica Rubra To Tree

9 years ago

Hi,

A couple of years ago I tried finding a Magnolia like LOTS of my neighbours all have here in Seattle and they were unavailable in any nurseries. (I was told they were too 'old-fashioned'). So I tried my hand at taking a cutting and ET VIOLA It worked! I -think- it's a 'Rustica Rubra'.

So now, the thing is about 3-4 feet tall and so far I got it to be kind of a 'tree shape' with 3 arms'. Over the winter, it split at the base, but I taped it and it seemed to heal.

But... while I wasn't paying attention over the summer it developed a 4th arm. Here's a piccie of the base with the 4th arm at the right.

SO HERE'S THE QUESTION:
Do I cut off the 4th arm? And... moving forward, how 'ruthless' do I have to be to keep it tree-like?

I do NOT want it to be a bush at all... and that's what seems to happen to all my neighbours over time.

TIA.

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Comments (3)

suntower
Original Author
9 years ago
Oh yeah. Sorry if this is the wrong forum. I didn't find 'Magnolia' in the 'trees' area. Although the plant I'm talking about will likely grow to 25' tall.
User
9 years ago
Suntower,
I hate to be the bearer of not so good news, but the split in the trunk bark is not good.
It is extremely vulnerable to getting a disease now.
That is a really bad split, that is why the tree is sending out another shoot, it will do that if it feels the main trunk is diseased.
Sorry, don't cut it off.
Not if that is why the tree is doing that, and by the look at that bark, I believe it is.
You may loose the orginal tree, and that extra sprout of branch will be the tree left.
I hope it heals alright for you, just don't cut yet.
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suntower
Original Author
9 years ago
OOOPS! Too late. Another person (supposedly a 'professional arborist') told me to cut it and so I did.

Any suggestions on protecting the wound so it has the best chance of success? I must say that, despite the wound the thing has been growing like a weed.

TIA