Prune and trim Magnolias to keep them in shape

The magnolia is an iconic spring flower and will be making its return to gardens up and done the country as the weather finally starts to improve.

Famous for its goblet or star-shaped flowers, it is also known for being an early blooming plant. Writing in the Observer, Dan Pearson noted that tree magnolias have been blooming since February in warmer parts of the UK.

He added that magnolias "make good garden plants, from neatly behaved bushes to the grandest of flowering trees". But how should you prune and maintain these eye-catching additions to the garden?

Happily, magnolias should require relatively little attention. However, there are a few things you can do to keep them healthy and of the right size for your space.

Importantly, you need to wait until the plant has finished blooming for the season before you prune it. This will ensure you do not damage the flowers for next year's cycle.

If you're pruning to limit size, the Royal Horticultural Society advises staging it over several years to avoid stressing the tree. Your routine pruning should really be restricted to the removal of deadwood and watershoots.

At MowDIRECT, you'll find a range of tools for shaping and trimming all of your shrubs and hedges. The Bosch Isio Cordless Shrub Shear, available for only £49.95 including VAT, is an ultra-lightweight piece of equipment that is perfect for maintaining garden shrubs, patio boxes and small hedges.

We also stock the Flymo EasiCut 420 Cordless Hedgetrimmer, which can provide a full hour's worth of cutting on a single charge.

Now is an ideal time to make sure your hedges and shrubs are in shape, before the real work in the garden begins. Don't delay – get ready for the summer by trimming and cutting where necessary to make sure your hedges remain dense and compact.