Magnolia

[bluebird34]

all the gardening books tell you not to trim magnolia trees but mine was cut down a few years ago by mistake and has grown huge since then. Was I just lucky or can I have it cut down again and if so when

[rowanwitch]

prunye for shape and remove any branches you don't like... it might sulk and miss a tear flowering but they are pretty forgiving

[Chipchopper]

At a guess, I'm thinking that it might be a root grafted variety that you have there, and the regrowth may be the result of vigorous shoots coming up from the root-stock.
It is possible to coppice them but not usually recommended, as you tend to get weak sappy growth (water shoots), as opposed to compact foliage with plenty of flowers.

Prune decidouous trees after flowering from mid Summer to early Autumn.
Magnolia grandiflora is the main evergreen variety grown, which flowers later, so again after flowering but before the frosts!

[bluebird34]

Thank you i'm not sure what mine is but when my gardener cut is drastically a few years ago it did sulk for a couple of years but since then has grown enormously. It has just finished flowering so when he comes next week I will get him to give it a good trim. Thanks again