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  Geoff Norfolk May 1, 2010 at 5:54am

  Never done a large one like that myself but a neighbour had one masacred by pikies couple of years back...... must have been in the Winter as can't remember any leaves on it. Came back fine with no problems.
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  David Bloomer May 1, 2010 at 7:19am

  its flowering at the moment but not well it has flowers on about half the stems and isn't what id call a good flowerer, many have lots more flowers on than this one, they want it reducing as once it gets its leaves it casts a lot of shadow across the main part of the garden.
  
  It deffinitely needs a bit of tidying up of some odd wayward branches etc, the reduction is open to negotiation as the client doesn't want to lose it and will listen to reasonable arguement about not doing certain jobs...
  
  Whilst were at it is there a way to improve its chances of more flowers in future years???
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  Gareth May 1, 2010 at 8:43am

  Is it a Magnolia x soulangeana? Whenever they are pruned hard, lopped to a certain height, they throw up a thicket of water shoots which don’t carry as much flower (if any) as more mature wood. The resulting dense canopy will also cast more shade. If its still possible the best approach is to retain the natural shape of the tree by thinning much of the epicormic growth out and carrying out light reductions but leaving growing points – thinning out not reducing height. This can let more light through, produce more flower and leave it looking like a Magnolia tree! They can bleed heavily so mid-summer is a good time to prune them.
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  Dave Sewell May 1, 2010 at 9:31am

  David,
  Here's all you need to know!
  http://www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire/content/articles/2008/01/08/magnoli...
  Dave
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  David Bloomer May 1, 2010 at 10:18am

  thanks guys, will discuss with client, looks like thinning ratherthan reducing is the order of the day, and even then taking it easy...
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  pete May 1, 2010 at 10:40am

  I've thinned out and shaped (late July) a couple of big Magnolias – should be a very rewarding job to do as they're such fine trees. This is a line from CSL's 'Tree Health' blog:
  
  "it is essential to spend more time looking at the tree, than working on it".
  
  I have no training in tree work and don't do anything major but occasionally do small garden trees... what pruning books does anyone use?
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  Gareth May 1, 2010 at 11:22am

  The Pruning of Trees, Shrubs & Conifers by George E Brown (2nd edition revised by Tony Kirkham)
  and RHS Pruning & Training by Christopher Brickle
  
  pete said:

  I've thinned out and shaped (late July) a couple of big Magnolias – should be a very rewarding job to do as they're such fine trees. This is a line from CSL's 'Tree Health' blog:
  
  "it is essential to spend more time looking at the tree, than working on it".
  
  I have no training in tree work and don't do anything major but occasionally do small garden trees... what pruning books does anyone use?
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  Philippa Keeling May 1, 2010 at 1:59pm

  I have very successfully pruned a magnolia x soulangeana and would highly recommend it - I think they are far more hardy than generally expected. This one was well established but had been much neglected over many years and had rope digging into the trunk etc. ...
  1. I washed the trunk down with soapy water to get rid of white mildew
  2. Cut out all extraneus,dead and weak branches
  3. Opened up the tree and created an attractive shape by cutting out crossing or close branches.
  4. Cut lower and overhanging branches
  5. Trimmed extra long branches
  I did this over a period of three years..certainly not during flowering but around July/August timeframe.
  The Magnolia has flourished more each year and looks GREAT!
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  pete May 2, 2010 at 8:07pm

  Steve Kenyon The Garden Company said:

  pete , the best way is to search on the internet !
  
  I have no training in tree work and don't do anything major but occasionally do small garden trees... what pruning books does anyone use?

  
  Oh right – well pointed out Steve – it's just I did a lot of gardening before computers and would always have to refer to a book when faced with something new – anyway, I need all the help I can get. My most used pruning guide book is also the one Gareth has by George E Brown – I've also got 'Pirone's Tree Maintenance' and 'The Arboriculturalist's Companion' both are really too technical for my use. 'The Pruning Book' by Lee Reich I'll refer to but is American so I don't rely on it. - I'd like to see an Alex Shigo book but they're expensive as is one Corny recommends 'The Body Language of Trees' ---- The other one you mention Gareth, the RHS Pruning and Training book has the best reviews on Amazon, I might get it.