Water is an integral part of the life of all organisms. However, everyone has different requirements in this regard.
QUICK ANSWER: Water the magnolia when the soil around the roots is slightly more than 1 inch dry. Use at least 2 gallons of water each time. This watering schedule should be followed for the first two growing seasons.
Read also: Main Care Guide for Magnolias.
Water requirements
Magnolia generally needs watering for the first 2 years after planting or transplanting. The root system grows relatively slowly, so it cannot provide enough water in the heat.
So, you must constantly monitor the soil moisture near the roots. Use your finger or a stick to see how deep the soil has dried. If it is deeper than about 2 inches, it is time to water.
The amount of water for each tree should be about 2 gallons. If the magnolia tree is tiny, 1 gallon will suffice. For specimens over 7 feet tall, 3 gallons will be needed.
Usually, after 2 years, the tree will be fully rooted and not need to be watered. An exception might be if the weather is extremely hot and dry for over a month.
Watering should be reduced in autumn. Let the soil dry out by 2 inches or a little more. This is especially true for deciduous magnolias.
In winter, you don’t need to water the magnolia at all. This is when it is dormant and does not need much water.
Too much water
Watering a magnolia on a schedule is a sure way to overwater it. If it has rained and the ground is wet, you don’t need to water anymore, no matter what the schedule tells you.
Even if it’s been a week since it rained, it doesn’t mean you need to water. Some types of soil can hold water long enough. This is especially true for clay soils.
So you have to look at the moisture content of the soil first to determine when to water.
The first symptom of root rot is the yellowing of the leaves. It should also be very wet around the roots.
There is nothing you can do to cure magnolia. If the tree is strong, it will beat the disease independently. As it heals, let the soil dry out more than 2 inches and water no more than 1 gallon.
Not enough water
Magnolia dehydration can happen much more often than overwatering. This sometimes occurs in the first summer after planting.
This can be caused by planting too late or a prolonged transplant shock. If you planted a magnolia in late spring or early summer, it may not grow enough roots for the summer heat.
As a result, the magnolia will suffer from a lack of water. Symptoms of this will be dropping leaves. If the sun was intense at this time, the leaves may turn brown around the edges.
To avoid this, only plant or transplant magnolia in early spring. When replanting, take care not to damage the root system.
Don’t let the soil dry out more than 1 to 2 inches between waterings in the first two years. Also, if possible, shade the magnolia in the first summer.
In addition, be sure to mulch the root zone. Use only organic matter for this purpose. Pine bark or compost works best.
A layer of mulch should be at least 2 inches. Avoid pouring mulch on the trunk of the tree. The place where the roots connect to the trunk should be free of mulch.
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Good information, thnk youfor the specifics. Just planted a 5 yr old magnolia in our front yard. We live in S.E. Texas (Houston suburb) and was curious about watering a freshly transplanted tree.
Thank you.
Hi, Michael. Water a newly planted tree when the soil in the root zone is 1 inch dry. After watering, the soil should be moist but not boggy, i.e. do not flood the tree.
Once the tree is established (after about a year), watering can be reduced or stopped altogether. Magnolias that have been growing in my garden for many years I almost never water.