Magnolia Tree Care Guide

The exquisite flowers and large leaves of the Magnolia provide a fantastic view in any yard. This is the very reason why homeowners choose Magnolias for garden decoration.

Plant profile

Planting

Early spring is the most appropriate time to plant magnolia. It will also be good if the planting day is wet and overcast.

Choose a location with no excessive water nearby (pond, etc.). There should also be at least a few hours of direct sun daily.

Magnolia can tolerate many soils, but a nutritious, loose substrate is best.

Dig a hole 2-3 times the size of your tree’s root system. Mix the resulting soil with the same amount of quality compost or peat.

Gently pull the magnolia from the pot and place it in the hole. The level of the potting soil and the garden soil should be the same. Fill all the empty space in the pit with the prepared mix and compact it in a little.

Water the magnolia with 1 gallon of water. After a few hours, give another gallon.

Read more: How To Plant A Magnolia Tree?

Light requirements

Magnolias are sun-loving plants, so you need to provide them with direct sun. Plant the magnolia in a location where it will receive 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day.

Most magnolias can tolerate direct sun all day long. Although some species still need partial shade. Also, in zones 9-10, shade in the afternoon will still be an advantage for all species.

As for full shade, it is contraindicated for magnolias because they are not shade-loving trees. If it does not receive direct sun at all, you should not expect it to flower.

In addition, in full shade, the crown of the magnolia will have far fewer branches and will be loose. The tree will also be more susceptible to fungal diseases.

Read more: How Much Sun Does A Magnolia Tree Need?

Soil

Magnolia can tolerate different types of soils. This even applies to clay soil because it is a moisture-loving tree. So, in most cases, you do not need to do anything with your soil.

But if you have too wet or stony soil in your yard, it can be improved. Add a soil conditioner or peat to the planting hole and mix well with the native soil. This will make the soil lighter and more draining.

In addition, after adding organic matter to the soil, it will become more nutritious. Magnolia needs to have enough organic matter for abundant blooms.

As far as pH is concerned, Magnolia prefers slightly acidic soil. However, it can also tolerate slightly alkaline soil. Avoid planting it in soils with too high a pH, as this can lead to chlorosis.

Read more: What Kind Of Soil Does A Magnolia Tree Need?

Watering

The magnolia is a water-loving plant because of its large leaves and fast growth rate. Although fully established, it should only be watered in severe drought.

Water the magnolia when the soil is 1 to 2 inches dry. This watering schedule should be followed for the first 2 years after planting.

The amount of water should be at least 2 gallons. If the tree is taller than 5 feet, 3 gallons or more will be needed.

Do not water if the soil is already wet, and do not use large amounts of water. Otherwise, root rot may occur.

Once the tree is fully rooted (1-2 years), you can stop watering completely. Sometimes, it may be necessary to water if the drought is too long.

Avoid watering magnolia trees in late fall and winter. This is when the tree needs to rest; excess water around the roots can cause damage.

Read more: How Much Water Does A Magnolia Tree Need?

Pruning

Magnolia almost does not need pruning because it has a fairly regular shape. But if you decide to prune, early spring is the best time.

By pruning in the spring before the leaves begin to emerge, you can be sure that the wounds will heal and the tree will fully recover by the end of the season.

The first thing to trim is dead or damaged branches after the winter. Cut close to the attachment point, but do not damage the trunk or the main branch to make the wound as small as possible.

Always use sterile and sharp tools of good quality. It is good practice to treat large wounds with fungicide.

Read more: How Do I Prune A Magnolia Tree?

Diseases

In general, magnolia is quite a disease-resistant tree, but problems can sometimes arise. In most cases, this applies to fungal diseases, namely leaf spot.

In spring, the young leaves can get fungal spores, and by summer, they will turn into brown spots. The leaves will turn yellow and fall off if there are many spots.

This often happens if the air around the tree is too humid. Also, one of the possible causes of the disease is poor air exchange around the crown.

Do not plant magnolia trees too close to other trees or buildings to avoid this. The distance between the magnolia and another object should not be less than its width at maturity.

If spots appear on the leaves, spray them with an aqueous solution of a multi-purpose fungicide. Repeat the spraying after 2 weeks with copper fungicide.

Read more: Magnolia Tree Diseases With Images

Pests

Among magnolia pests, scale is the most common. They are white or gray insects of miniature size.

These pests parasitize on the leaves and young branches of magnolia trees. Their food is magnolia sap. As a result of their activities, sticky secretions may appear on the lower leaves, eventually turning black.

You probably won’t even notice a small number of these parasites. But if their population grows significantly, the tree can take considerable damage.

To get rid of them, spray the magnolia tree with horticultural oil. You can also use insecticidal soap or other biological insecticides.

A systemic insecticide should be used several times in the most severe cases. If the magnolia has suffered greatly from these pests, water it once with a water-soluble fertilizer.

Read more: What Bugs Eat Magnolia Trees?

Fertilizer

Magnolia needs a lot of nutrients to bloom abundantly. Its large leaves also need a little more nitrogen than other trees.

The best fertilizer is one that holds a little more nitrogen than phosphorus and potassium. I prefer slow-release pellets. Make sure the product contains at least some iron and magnesium.

Fertilize in the spring when the first leaves appear. If the pellets have a release time of 6-9 months, one spring application per year is enough. If the fertilizer is less than 3-4 months of release, re-apply it until mid-summer.

Avoid fertilizing in the fall and winter, as this will prevent the magnolia from going into dormancy. As a result, the tree will suffer in the winter.

Read more: How Do You Fertilize Magnolia Trees?

Propagation

The easiest way to propagate magnolia is by cuttings. You need to take cuttings in early spring from last year’s branches. Then, dip the lower part of the cuttings into the rooting gel.

Fill the seedling substrate with drainage holes in a tray. Stick each cutting separately into the soil. Water them and place the tray in a shaded greenhouse.

By the end of the season, the cuttings will form full-grown plants. Only transplant them separately the following spring.

Read more: How Do You Propagate A Magnolia Tree?

Read more: Should You Put Mulch Around A Magnolia Tree?

Transplanting

It is better to transplant magnolia in early spring or in late winter. It is important that the tree is in hibernation or has already come out of it but the buds have not yet begun to push.

Step back at least 3 feet from the trunk and start digging. The larger the tree, the more you need to step back from the trunk to damage as few roots as possible.

The same is true for the depth to which you must dig. The minimum depth should be 2 to 3 feet.

Move the dug magnolia to a new location. It is important that the root ball remains intact. Do it quickly and don’t let the root ball dry out.

The new planting hole should be twice as big as the roots. Place the magnolia in the hole at a level with the surrounding soil. Backfill the space with soil and water with at least 2 gallons of water.

Read more: Can Magnolia Trees Be Transplanted?

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