Okay, so, I got this Jane Magnolia tree in my yard, right? It’s a pretty thing when those flowers pop up in the spring, but the rest of the time, it just kind of… sits there. And honestly, it was starting to look a little rough around the edges. So, I figured, time to give it a little trim.
First off, I waited until all those pretty pinkish-purple flowers were done and gone. I read somewhere that’s the best time to do it, something about not messing up next year’s blooms. Didn’t want to screw that up, those flowers are the main reason I like this tree!
So, flowers gone, I got my pruning shears out. These things are ancient, by the way, probably older than the tree itself. But hey, they still cut. I also grabbed a pair of gloves because I’m not a huge fan of getting all scratched up.
I started with the dead branches. Those are easy to spot, all brown and brittle. Snip, snip, no problem. Then I looked for any branches that were crossing or rubbing against each other. Apparently, that’s not good for the tree, can cause wounds or something. It’s like when you wear shoes that are too tight, you know? So I pruned those back, trying to imagine how the tree would grow and where it might need more space.
- Snip off the dead stuff
- Look for branches that are rubbing
- Try to shape it a bit
I also took out some of the lower branches to kind of raise the canopy a bit. It was getting a little too bushy down low, made it hard to mow underneath. Plus, I wanted to show off that nice trunk a little more.
It took me a while, I’m no expert, but I just kept stepping back, looking at the tree, and then snipping a bit more. I didn’t want to go crazy and hack it all off, just wanted to tidy it up and make sure it stays healthy.
The Final Touches
After I was done, I cleaned up all the branches and leaves. That was almost as much work as the pruning itself! But the tree looks a whole lot better now. It’s got a nicer shape, more open and airy. I think it’s happier, too. At least, I hope so! Now we just wait and see if I messed up next year’s flowers. Fingers crossed!
