Same Sweetbay Magnolia 4 years later

Magnolia virginiana cutback

An enormous 60 foot white pine toppled over several smaller trees. The aftermath was a severely damaged  3- year old sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana). Replacing the  3 1/2 inch diameter tree would have cost the homeowner over $300. My recommendation to the homeowner was to cut back the magnolia trunk to approximately 12 inches from the ground in late winter or 6 inches above the graft union. While not much remained above ground, the grafted tree still retained 100% of its root system. Nearly 4 years later and after considerable timely pruning, the tree has completely regrown.

A few tree facts: Inside the trunk wood are several latent (adventitious) buds. Survival is what the tree is trying to do.  Several multiple shoots pushed out in the spring from above and below ground. All growth below the graft union is from its seedling rootsystem and must be promptly removed, as to not compete with the preferred cultivar.

To create a new tree, prune off short or weak shoot growth, favoring the tallest, thickest, and straightest 1, 2 or 3 new shoots by mid-June (year one). You are deciding whether your new tree will be single or multi-trunk. All energy (growth) will be pushed into the selected shoots. No staking should be needed. Your “new tree” should be 3-4 feet by mid-September.

In early spring feed the stubbed tree with 10-10-10 or equivalent fertilizer; repeat that practice over the first 5 years. Mulch around the tree base, but do not pile mulch against the trunk. Over the next 2-3 years continue to prune off new shoots and root suckers which may form around the trunk base.