Which variety of Magnolia is it? Evergreen or deciduous at least, if she doesn't know.

I shall ask her tomorrow - thanks :)

Decidous!

Cut back a bit and remove dead wood after flowering, or in late summer. For more serious pruning, should be done in spring (should only be done on mature plants, but obviously, this one is mature).

So the spring prune would be after it has flowered? Sorry, just to be absolutely clear. :)

I was hoping you wouldn't ask me that, because its not clear to me either - that's just what the book says, so I'm not at all sure whether they're suggesting you sacrifice a year's flowers and prune early in spring, or whether you wait till after its finished flowering.

Thanks for your help Bamboo, I shall relay the info to her and then she can decide! I think prob after its flowered which is what you would do with any other shrub or small tree?? Apparently its so big something will have to be done!!! Ha ha!