Should My Magnolia Tree Be Trimmed Or Cut Back?

Question

I don’t know how old my Magnolia Tree is but I think it is beautiful. Last year there was a medium tree, no idea what it was, in front of it, blocking a lot of the sun it received in the afternoon. That tree was slowly dying, tossing branches so I had it removed. I noticed that the Magnolia had grown quite a large branch in the back attached to the Magnolia but from under the dirt. The guy who cuts my lawn cut that branch off two weeks ago. In the two months it was there it had grown quite long and about an inch and a half thick. When he cut it, the tree started a small bloom of flowers scattered around the tree. There are a few dead’ish looking branches coming up close to the middle. They have some leaves but for the most part they look dead. Should I call someone to come out to check it and recommend if something should be done? Pruning? What time of year is best to prune a Magnolia? How do I find a certified arborist and do they all know about Magnolias? I am a tree lover and don’t want it damaged by Mother Earth or an Arborist and being disabled and on Medicare I don’t have a ton of extra cash to spend, I have no idea how much an arborist costs. Any direction you can give me would be appreciated.

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Answer 1

The dead branches need to be removed and you don't need an arborist to remove them. However, if you want more advice about your tree you may want to consult an arborist. You can call your local extension agent who could probably recommend one and give you an idea of what he charges.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/magnolia/pruning-magnolia-trees.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/extension-search