How to prune sweetbay magnolia

Late spring to early summer, after flowering. Cut cleanly just outside the branch collar. For multi-stemmed shrub form, remove the oldest, most congested stems at or near the base to improve airflow. Avoid cutting into the main trunks unnecessarily.

As needed; light tidying every few years is usually sufficient. Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) grows as a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree and requires minimal pruning. Remove dead or damaged stems in late spring after flowering. If grown as a tree, gradually remove lower branches to raise the crown. Like all magnolias, it is prone to sap bleed and disease through winter wounds.

Cut cleanly just outside the branch collar. For multi-stemmed shrub form, remove the oldest, most congested stems at or near the base to improve airflow. Avoid cutting into the main trunks unnecessarily.