Star Magnolia back budding

[PowerTap]

I have a star magnolia with a primary branch that has nice caliper, but is long and doesn't have a lot of foliage close in. I'm thinking about cutting it off or cutting it back. The tree has thrown off some buds in the same spot, so I have options for a replacement option.

But I'm unsure if I cut the branch back to a few inches will it start new growth on that branch? Or will it just wither?

Looking at the branch on the left.

 

[shinmai]

This is just my opinion, so take it for what it’s worth. I’ve been developing a stellata for about six years. Beside the fact that they make leaves the size of a bloodhound’s ear, which are very difficult to reduce, they have the annoying proclivity for rapidly producing straight, cylindrical, pencil-like branches. Said branches also lignify rapidly, making them a bitch to bend. They do, however, tend to back-bud nicely, especially when well fertilized.

If it were me, I would remove the branch in question. While substantial it seems disproportionate to the surrounding secondaries. I would suggest cutting it off and leaving a half inch stub. You have a high probability of then getting new budding at the base of the stub, which will give you more options.

 

[MMJNICE]

Looks like you have a branch growing right under the branch in question. Just cut the branch off and use the smaller branch under it... am I looking at the same branch?

 

[RoadManDenDron]

If its the branch I'm imagining, in my opinion it is much too thick already, being around the same as the trunk.

The bud I would be hoping to activate is circled below



Or perhaps remove the other trunk and use the low branch on that side as the new primary, taking care not to let it get too thick this time,

And use the current branch as the trunk

 

[PowerTap]

Looks like you have a branch growing right under the branch in question. Just cut the branch off and use the smaller branch under it... am I looking at the same branch?

Yha, that's the branch. I probably could have marked it better. There is a third branch there that is shorter yet but has some very short internodes, so I think that will be my winner.

I'll cut the big branch back to a stub and see what happens and if I like one more than the other.

 

[MMJNICE]

Yha, that's the branch. I probably could have marked it better. There is a third branch there that is shorter yet but has some very short internodes, so I think that will be my winner.

I'll cut the big branch back to a stub and see what happens and if I like one more than the other.

I almost bought a another magnolia today but saw something more interesting so went that direction. It was a let me see ahhh didn't catch the name in the picture is took but it had pretty small internodes and will have bright pink flowers this spring. My friend wants to go back up there tomorrow so is i go ill fill you in on the name. My star magnolia died last winter,,,didn't wake up for spring definitely because I didn't protect it carefully.

 

[PowerTap]

I almost bought a another magnolia today but saw something more interesting so went that direction. It was a let me see ahhh didn't catch the name in the picture is took but it had pretty small internodes and will have bright pink flowers this spring. My friend wants to go back up there tomorrow so is i go ill fill you in on the name. My star magnolia died last winter,,,didn't wake up for spring definitely because I didn't protect it carefully.

Two years ago I had one fall flower that was pink / purple on my magnolia. Quite lovely.