How To Care For Magnolias

As part of your magnolia tree care, you’ll need to water the trees to keep the soil around the base of the tree moist. It is especially important to keep young trees well-watered until they become established. Fertilize in spring when the flower buds begin to swell with a slow-release fertilizer.

How do you take care of a magnolia tree?

Growing and Caring for Magnolias Watering: Most varieties tolerate hot summers and some drought. Pruning: Magnolias don’t need much pruning other than to lop off damaged branches or to shape up the tree to keep it pretty. Fertilizing: If your tree is healthy and blooming, no fertilizer needed.

What is the best fertilizer for magnolias?

Most magnolia tree varieties grow best when they received fertilizers to have an ample amount of nitrogen. This means that fertilizers with an NPK ratio of 20-5-10 or 12-4-8 are most ideal for the tree. That being said, magnolia trees can also benefit from all-purpose fertilizers as well.

Do magnolia trees need a lot of sun?

Make sure to choose a variety that can survive winters in your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone. Then give your magnolia the right conditions, which is full sun of six or more hours per day. Magnolias also don’t like wet feet, so don’t plant them in soggy areas in your yard.

How do you take care of a potted magnolia tree?

Place the container where it will get full sun to partial shade. The best flowering occurs with ample sunlight. However, if you find your tree is withering in a hot, sunny location, move it to a slightly shadier spot. Water several times a week for the first few months to keep the soil moist but not soggy.

What kills a magnolia tree?

Magnolias are susceptible to a few pests and diseases such as baterical leaf spot, magnolia boreres, spot anthracnose, canker, dieback, butt rot, powdery mildew, anthracnose, fungal spots, snails, weevils, scale insects, planthoppers, and thrips. I believe in your case dieback is probably the culprit.

Are magnolia trees easy to care for?

How to Care for a Magnolia Tree. If you are looking for an ornamental tree that will tolerate wet, soggy soil, you need look no further than a magnolia. Magnolia planting is best done in a moist, rich, slightly acidic soil that is amended with compost or leaf mold will get the tree off to a good start.

Why will my magnolia not flower?

Magnolias need plenty of sunshine and shelter from strong winds and frosts, which can damage the flowers. Heavy pruning in summer will remove the developing flower buds and will also stress the tree, preventing it from flowering. Lack of water can also stress the tree. Blackened foliage is due to frost damage.

Why are the leaves on my magnolia tree turning yellow?

Too little water can cause drought stress, which results in yellowing leaves on magnolias. Too much water, or soil that doesn’t drain well, can drown the tree roots. This can also cause yellow magnolia leaves. Yellow magnolia leaves can also be a symptom of sunburn or insufficient light.

Is Epsom salt good for magnolia trees?

Magnolias do flower best in sun and prefer an acidic, loose soil. And possibly, if your tree is old enough, Epsom salts can help, since it helps release elements in the soil for better plant absorption.

Can magnolia Susan grow in pots?

A fully hardy variety which is easy to grow and can be grown in a full sun or semi shaded area, can grow to approx 12ft-15ft tall when mature, however can be pruned to keep smaller. Can be grown directly in the border or in a large container on the patio.

Do magnolia trees need lots of water?

Watering Magnolias Whatever their size, magnolias are low-maintenance plants that don’t require frequent watering. In general, you should water magnolia trees once a week during the first two growing seasons and twice a month in subsequent years.

Where should you not plant a magnolia tree?

Plant magnolia trees far enough away to prevent them from overhanging your house, but avoid planting them too close to your property easement in the front of the house so that drivers can have a direct line of sight.

Do magnolias flower twice?

Magnolias can flower for a long period, often with a second flush a few months later. Different species bloom at different times, from early spring to late summer.

How do you revive a dying magnolia tree?

However, you can try taking the following measures: Soak the soil around the root zone of the plant. Set up a patio heater (if you have one) near the plant (but not so close that it actually heats up the foliage). Spray an antitranspirant on the tree’s leaves to offer some protection.

What do you feed a magnolia tree?

Feeding Magnolia Trees Use a liquid ericaceous fertiliser, such as Miracle-Gro Liquid Ericaceous Plant food.

How do I know if my magnolia tree is dying?

You can examine the buds more closely to determine when they died. If they are brown all through, they have been dead for a while. Also, you can examine the cambium layer (just below the outer layer of bark) on several branches to see if it is still green, or brown and dead.

Why is my magnolia dying?

It could be that your port wine magnolia has phytophthora root rot. This is a fungi that affects the roots of the tree or shrub. Leaves will yellow and die and branches will die back from the tips. The plant may die quickly in hot weather or linger for months without putting on any new growth.

How long do magnolia trees last?

Magnolia Tree Lifespan A Southern magnolia, given a home in rich, moist, well-drained soil and a humid environment and plenty of room to grow to its maximum height of 80 feet tall and 40 feet in diameter, could live 80 to 120 years.

Can you overwater a magnolia tree?

Do not be afraid to overwater at planting, as this will help the roots establish. But avoid keeping the tree in saturated soil. While magnolias do well in areas where moisture applications range in extremes from too dry to too wet, any plant’s roots can drown if it’s constantly kept in water.

How do I get my magnolia tree to bloom?

Magnolia trees need lots of direct sun in order to produce flowers. The more shade your tree gets, the fewer flowers you will see. Even if you planted it in a clear, sunny site, nearby trees may have grown tall and currently be shading it.