Pruning a very very spindly magnolia

Hi all, I am new here so hello everyone!

We have a very very spindly magnolia which was planted about 8 years ago next to a privet hedge. The hedge over time has swamped the magnolia and the magnolia has grown very tall, thin and spindly.

We have finally removed the hedge in the last few weeks and we now want to give the magnolia some tlc. As its trunk is so tall we have supported it but we don't want to have to support it forever so want to ask if it is possible to take some action now to re-shape it in a way that will make it "fill out" in time, forming a stronger, thicker trunk.

The central trunk is very thin and tall and there are just two main side shooting branches with several other branches off those. It is currently flowering.

I guess in a nutshell I am asking for pruning advice to bring this tree back to the structure a magnolia should be. I dont want to harm it in any way.

Many thanks

 

Hello and welcome to GC. When the magnolia's finished flowering, take the plunge and cut the side branches hard back, perhaps to within 12" of the trunk. Then give it a treat of Blood, Fish and Bone fertiliser and preferably a generous mulch of organic matter 3" deep for a diameter of 3' but not touching the trunk. It should form a decent crown this year and the trunk will thicken up now the competition is removed.