Magnolia Tree Care
Monday April 28, 2008
Have questions about magnolia tree care? Here's an interesting Q&A on magnolias. For instance, have you had trouble getting your magnolia tree to bloom? The author points out that magnolias grown from seed can take 15-20 years to bloom; to avoid the long wait, make sure you're buying a "cultivar." Read more tips on magnolia tree care in this article.
Note on the Comments section below for magnolia tree care: As of 11/01/2008, 50 comments have been posted, and that's a good cut-off figure (it's getting too unwieldy). Please post any further questions on magnolia tree care in the Landscaping forum, rather than posting them here.
When you click the link and reach the forum, you'll see, near the top of the page, "Hello,Guest | Log In | New user? Register." If you're not already registered, click the link to do so (it's free). Once logged in, look for the link that reads, "Post new message." This is how you can ask your question on magnolia tree care.
I realize this means a bit more work for you, but I’d like to reserve the Comments section for the function that it’s best suited to serve: posting comments. The forum, by contrast, is set up in such a way that it’s better suited for questions than is the Comments section. I look forward to answering your questions on magnolia tree care in the forum. And once you're a forum member, you're part of our community. See you there!
Note on the Comments section below for magnolia tree care: As of 11/01/2008, 50 comments have been posted, and that's a good cut-off figure (it's getting too unwieldy). Please post any further questions on magnolia tree care in the Landscaping forum, rather than posting them here.
When you click the link and reach the forum, you'll see, near the top of the page, "Hello,Guest | Log In | New user? Register." If you're not already registered, click the link to do so (it's free). Once logged in, look for the link that reads, "Post new message." This is how you can ask your question on magnolia tree care.
I realize this means a bit more work for you, but I’d like to reserve the Comments section for the function that it’s best suited to serve: posting comments. The forum, by contrast, is set up in such a way that it’s better suited for questions than is the Comments section. I look forward to answering your questions on magnolia tree care in the forum. And once you're a forum member, you're part of our community. See you there!
Comments
I have a Magnolia Tree that is weeping sap and has a white substance on the branches. What could it be? Can the tree be saved, or must it be cut down. The sap is causing a problem on my house roof and the cars in the drive. Also causing flies and bees which are a problem.
Help!
I have heard of instances where the cause of such leaking of sap from magnolia trees is either aphid infestation or scale infestation: specifically, those pests are sucking the sap out of the magnolia trees and excreting it. Products for killing and/or controlling such pests are available at home improvement stores (tell them you suspect you have an aphid or scale problem on your magnolia tree and ask for their opinion).
WE have a magnolia tree that was planted about 3 1/2 years ago. It has been doing realy well, but my husband noticed tonight that is is cracking vertically. There have been horizontal cracks before that we were told were normal, but we are worried about the vertical crack. What is this and what can we do?
I haven’t heard of cracking as being a problem in magnolia tree care, specifically, but check out this Web site that deals with cracks in the trunks of trees, in general.
Planted a Magnolia 3 years ago, hasn’t flowered, Does it need fertilizer? What care can I give it?
Magnolia trees (depending on variety) can take 3 or more years to bloom, so patience is definitely a virtue here. But an application of fertilizer, as long as you follow the directions properly, could certainly be a plus in your magnolia tree care. Plants need phosphorous to set bud.
Planted a Southern Magnolia specifically developed to plant in Northern New Jersey. It has bloomed from the second year. This year it bloomed very little and it is now losing many leaves -(many, many more than usual – some curling up and dying. What can be causing this and what can I do to counteract this problem?
The 2 problems you report for your southern magnolia tree could be unrelated. Lack of flowering could be due to any one of a number of factors, including killing of buds by a late frost in spring. As for the leaves falling off your southern magnolia tree, it’s hard to diagnose without being there, but keep in mind that scale insects are a frequent problem in magnolia tree care.
how do i get seeds frm magnolia tree flower? Do i wait till it blooms.
My magnolia tree care hasn’t extended to raising magnolias from seed (a daunting task). But from what I’ve read (although this may depend on the type of magnolia tree), you wait for your magnolia tree to flower and form a seed pod, which ripens by fall; then remove the seed pod to get at the seeds.
Can I move a small magnolia tree to another location which gets more sun
Yup, moving a small magnolia tree shouldn’t be a problem. Read these tips on transplanting trees.
Have heard about this tree to be effective in some ill domains like halitosis etc. Where can one buy this in a local market. Is it avaible for sell and where?.
We bought a house a year ago with a magnolia. It’s about 10 feet. Last fall it shed all of it’s leaves and this past spring barely any of them came back. Now, the last week of August all of the leaves have already fallen off. I have broken off all of the dead limbs. Can you tell me what is going on with our tree?
Sorry, Carrie, but I’d need more information than that (and, even then, it would be just an educated guess) to diagnose what’s wrong with your magnolia tree. For instance: type of magnolia tree, where you live, how much rain/irrigation it has received, how much sun it gets, any fertilizers you’ve used in the area, presence of any insects (or anything else that shouldn’t be on the tree), etc.
Loh,
Never heard of the halitosis connection. But in terms of where magnolia trees can be bought locally, I’d say try any nursery in your area that is known to sell trees. Never rule out any of the big chains (Home Depot, etc.), either, if you’re shopping for price.
I think it’s a Southern Magnolia. I was just told by the previous owner that it is a magnolia. We live in Louisville and the past two summers have been very dry. The tree gets about half a days sun and all we do is water it. I haven’t noticed any uncommon pests around our yard, just ants. We have never fertilized the tree. It was so full and beautiful last June and now it’s so sad and bare! Should I break off more of the dead limbs?
Thanks for providing more info, Carrie, about your magnolia tree. You ask, “Should I break off more of the dead limbs?” A rule of thumb for tree care in such cases is to ascertain where there is green underneath the bark (signaling life) and to prune off only where there’s brown (signaling death). To make this determination, take a sharp knife and make a small cut through the bark of your magnolia tree. Such pruning certainly can’t hurt.
Here’s my educated guess as to what may have sent your magnolia tree into decline. You say that you’ve had dry summers recently and that you’ve watered a lot to compensate. In such cases, folks frequently over-compensate and drown the roots (although there are too many variables involved for me to be able to say you need to supply it with X amount of water per week). If you have a clay soil, the chances of this happening go up dramatically. If you think it’s possible you’ve been over-watering, I’d ease up on the watering. The magnolia tree’s roots will have less top growth to support, anyhow, after your pruning, so it won’t require as much water.
Best of luck!
My magnolia has red seeds coming out from the part where it flowered. Can I plant these to grow a tree? If so, what do they like; dry, moist, shade, sun?
Susan,
If you live where it gets cold in winter, don’t plant the seeds from your magnolia tree now. Instead, put the seeds in a freezer bag filled with peat moss. Dampen the peat, seal the bag and put it in the fridge at about 40º. In late winter, sow the seeds in a container filled with a growing medium (a seed tray) and place the container in a sunny window. Don’t plant the magnolia tree sprouts outside until danger of frost has passed.
Plant your magnolia tree sprouts in full sun and in a well-drained, loamy soil that you keep evenly moist, but not wet.
saucer magnolia is looking like it is sunburn, the leaves are starting to look burnt, browning & looking thin. The last 2 springs ‘07 &’08 decreased blooms and 2008 some of the blooms looked like I described the leaves, which I thought it was from a late freeze. the tree is about 15yo, 15-20′tall and have been well taken care of (in requards to pruning regularly) I havent seen any pest and the bark is smooth looks normal. gets all day sun, water regually, I live in north texas.PLEASE HELP MY (TULIP) {I CALL IT}) TREE. I would hate to loose it.
I live in Portland Oregon and recently planted a magnolia tree in my front yard. I noticed the new growth is turning brown. What do you suggest I do?
Sal,
Ease up a bit on watering your magnolia tree for the rest of the growing season and see how it looks next spring. Healthy specimens (whether magnolia trees or otherwise) profit from fall watering; but the brown leaves make this a different situation.
Jena,
The brown leaves could be due to any of a number of factors — very difficult to diagnose over the Web. For instance, the problem could be either too much or too little water (both of which have to be considered in the context of soil drainage); or your soil could be nutrient-deficient (a soil test never hurts).
I purchased two Magnolia trees from Steins Gardens. Didn’t notice the leaves had black spots on them until they were already planted. Went back to the store, and ALL their Magnolias had these spots. They told me it was from moisture. The leaves turned brown and fell off. They told me this will happend every summer when it gets hot (I live in Wisconsin). They said not to worry – come Spring it will be fine. I’m worried – what do you say?
Connie,
What you probably have is something known in the magnolia tree care literature as “leaf spot.” The problem could very well have originated “from moisture,” as they told you, since leaf spot is a fungus. I’ve never experienced it on my own magnolia trees (then again, I may have types different from yours), but leaf spot reputedly isn’t a major concern. The recommendation is to rake up and properly dispose of the affected leaves, so the fungus doesn’t spread. Having said all that, I am still, of course, in no way making any predictions about how your magnolia trees will do next year (always risky business over the Web!).
Best of luck.
I am looking to plant a magnolia tree…I live in Denver(outside of Charlotte), NC and I am looking for help:
What type does better in my area?
What type of soil?
I guess what I am looking for is all of the important information in planting the tree and watching it grow successfully!
Thank you!
Teri,
For region-specific info on magnolia tree care and selection, it’s best to check with a local county extension. Here’s a Web site for one close to you (it provides phone numbers):
NC State
Magnolia roots are easily damaged. We had one that was looking a bit sickly. Roots were pretty much exposed in a lot of places, as the root system frequently poked up through the ground.
Had an arborist tell me that as a last resort, he would recommend covering those roots with soil to hold moisture and prevent nicks/cuts with lawn mowers. I build a flower bed with 6″ of soil over the top of the exposed roots, and the tree recovered nicely.
We have a large bush that looks similar to a magnolia however, in this climate I doubt if one would survive. Is there such a thing as a northern magnolia? This bush flowers in early spring and just lately it has pods that open to expose small red berries.
Jim,
I grow a couple types of magnolia trees in my zone 5 landscape — but nothing that puts out red berries.
I have a southern magnolia tree I live in central FL in Aug. we got hit with tropical storm Fay which I had about 2 feet of water on my property for about 10 days the tree is about 12′ tall I planted it about 3 yrs ago but now about a week ago I noticed that all the leaves have turned brown have I lost the tree or is there something that I can do to save it
Dorraine,
Sounds like the roots “drowned.” Sorry, but I wouldn’t be especially hopeful that your magnolia tree will pull through. You could try digging some channels to drain the waterlogged soil, but that’s a lot of work; if it were my yard, I’d probably just buy a replacement (after the soil has dried out).
please advise I have a magnolia tree which bloomed this summer and started forming seed pods. recently i noticed that the pods were gone! could it be that squirrels stole them?
I would like to know how to protect the pods once they appear, so whatever happened to them will not happen in the future. the tree is only two years old.
My husband purchased a magnolia for me last year. The nursery said that it is a Southern Magnolia, but the leaves are not the deep rich green with redish undersides that I am used to seeing on a Southern. Is it possible that it isn’t a Southern? Where would I find good pictures of Magnolia’s to compare what I have to all the different species of Magnolia’s?
Jennifer,
A Web search I just tried didn’t yield great results for “magnolia tree pictures” (I didn’t go past the first page of Google results, though), but this piece on magnolia trees may help.
Betty,
I wouldn’t put anything past squirrels! If you really wanted to be on the safe side (this magnolia tree care solution will be practicable only if your specimen isn’t too big), you could surround your magnolia tree with a loose wooden frame (”loose” to indicate that you still want plenty of sunshine to get in) and staple wire mesh all around that frame. The wire mesh would also have to extend 6″ or so underground, to prevent the squirrels from sneaking under the frame.
If that sounds like way too much work to have to do all at once (it does to me!), you could experiment with spreading “stinky” substances (e.g., blood meal) around the area to try to repel the squirrels. Problem is, you have to keep re-applying these as the rain washes them away.
A Scarecrow Sprinkler might be another option.
hi, my fiance and i i got given a magnolia tree as an engagement gift and have potted it in a large pot, until we build our house what basic tips do i need to keep it alive, re; sunlight and amount of H20 it needs
Sun is fine, but the biggest challenge to container-grown magnolia tree care is watering properly.
It is possible either to under-water or over-water magnolia (or anything else). While everyone knows that under-watering can be a problem, over-watering is less obvious — but just as lethal. One cause of over-watering is the use of pots that do not have adequate drainage. Water just sits in the bottom, resulting in root rot. Using pots that are too large for young magnolia trees can have the same effect. You end up watering a mass of soil that is too great for the poor little roots to absorb. The water-retention of the soil will be excessive, causing the magnolia trees to have chronic “wet feet.”
No exact amount of water can be recommended, because conditions (temperature, humidity, etc.) vary so much. Your best bet is to judge by weight. That is, pick up the container; if it feels light, give your magnolia tree a thorough watering (as in watering until the water comes out through the bottom of the pot).
I have dead limbs on my Magnolia Tree, is it safe to cut the dead limbs off? Part of the dead limb is the top of the main tunk, should I top it or leave the tunk alone? The tree is about four years old and it really looks good other than the dead limbs. Seeking advise, don’t want to damage the life of my magnolia!
I have a lovely magnolia tree that i planted about 8 years ago.. sometimes it blooms twice a year…It’s getting very wide and tall now and I’d like to know if and how I can trim it back into a more compact size…people have said that magnolia trees shouldn’t be pruned back is this true? Jan G.
I live in Charleston, SC and I have a magnolia that I planted a couple of years ago when it was about 5 feet tall (B&B). It finally flowered this past spring some, but not much. Now suddenly I am having a lot of yellowing leaves. Any ideas?
I live in South FL. My magnolia tree is on the south side of our property (most sun). The bark has a lightish green circular shaped rubbery type of growth on the main trunk which comes off if you rub it off. I think this may be killing my tree since the leaves are drying up and the tree is mostly bare. I do not see any insects on it. Yet, the tree is still flowering in places. It is about 8 feet high. Any idea if that growth is harmful to tree- unsure if it is a fungus or somthing else. DO YOU THINK THERE IS A CORRELATION BETWEEN THIS “FUNGIS” AND CONDITION OF TREE? WHAT CAN BE SPRAYED ON TREE TO REMOVE THIS FUNGIS? THANKS.
Ann,
As I wrote above, in response to a similar question on magnolia tree care:
“A rule of thumb for tree care in such cases is to ascertain where there is green underneath the bark (signaling life) and to prune off only where there’s brown (signaling death). To make this determination, take a sharp knife and make a small cut through the bark of your magnolia tree. Such pruning certainly can’t hurt.”
As for topping your magnolia tree, it would be unfortunate if you had to do so. However, if the top is dead, then it’s dead — not much you can do about it. Sorry.
We moved into our new home last winter. We have a huge magnolia tree in our yard (20 or more feet high) with many blooms. Can you use the pods with the red berries to grow other trees? Excuse my ignorance.
Jan,
Pruning really is not widely considered part of magnolia tree care. For one thing, magnolia trees don’t heal as well as most from pruning cuts and, for another, you generally spoil a magnolia’s looks by pruning it. But if you still decide to prune, do so after flowering, so you can at least enjoy that year’s blooms.
Chris,
From what I read, southern magnolia tree leaves sometimes turn yellow as a prelude to shedding (which happens periodically). However, this seems to occur more often in the spring. With you reporting seeing the yellow leaves in fall, it makes me think there could perhaps be a problem — perhaps with irrigation, be it natural or artificial (too much or too little).
Michael,
From the Clemson Extension:
“Most magnolias are generally pest-free. They may be troubled by various types of scales, which can infest twigs and leaves. They are also subject to leaf spots, black mildew, blights, scab and canker, caused by various fungi or bacteria. Control is not generally warranted.”
Rather than fungi, it could be lichens, which are relatively harmless. My guess (and that’s all it can be, a guess, given my ignorance of your magnolia tree’s life history) is that there’s no cause-effect relationship between this “rubbery type of growth” and the state of your magnolia tree’s foliage.
Linda,
Yes, you can use the pods with the red berries to grow other magnolia trees. Someone else had the same question, above. I answered in detail, as follows:
If you live where it gets cold in winter, don’t plant the seeds from your magnolia tree now. Instead, put the seeds in a freezer bag filled with peat moss. Dampen the peat, seal the bag and put it in the fridge at about 40º. In late winter, sow the seeds in a container filled with a growing medium (a seed tray) and place the container in a sunny window. Don’t plant the magnolia tree sprouts outside until danger of frost has passed.
Plant your magnolia tree sprouts in full sun and in a well-drained, loamy soil that you keep evenly moist, but not wet.
thirteen years ago i planted a magnolia tree in honer of a loved one. the tree grew like you wouldent believe,it flowered every year and was so thick with leaves that you could not see light through it well we just got an early snow 9 inches in 5 hrs, and all those thick leaves held on to it and it pealed it like a banana is their any way i can save it or should i cut it down?
Denise,
Without being there, it’s tough to tell how badly damaged your magnolia tree is. If it’s in really bad shape, it might not recover (although there’s no sense in being hasty about cutting it down). Short of calling in an arborist, the best you can do is hope that it heals; the use of tree “paints” for wounds is generally discouraged now. Keep an eye out for wood borers (whose presence is signaled by fine saw dust at the base of the tree) in the meantime; and if you detect their presence, spray with an insecticide.
Hi all,
So that it’s easier for everyone to see, I just wanted to repeat down here what I said above:
Note on the Comments section for magnolia tree care: As of 11/01/2008, 50 comments have been posted, and that’s a good cut-off figure (it’s getting too unwieldy). Please post any further questions on magnolia tree care in the Landscaping forum, rather than posting them here.
When you click the link and reach the forum, you’ll see, near the top of the page, “Hello,Guest | Log In | New user? Register.” If you’re not already registered, click the link to do so (it’s free). Once logged in, look for the link that reads, “Post new message.” This is how you can ask your question on magnolia tree care.
I realize this means a bit more work for you, but I’d like to reserve the Comments section for the function that it’s best suited to serve: posting comments. The forum, by contrast, is set up in such a way that it’s better suited for questions than is the Comments section. I look forward to answering your questions on magnolia tree care in the forum. And once you’re a forum member, you’re part of our community. See you there!
our 3 year old magnolia has 2/3 of its leaves that are now brown. it has done well for its first two years but now we are concerned. we are in northern virgina which has been relatively dry for the past three months.
rpwenz,
The brown leaves could be the result of any one of a number of factors. Too little water is certainly a possibility, but so could high winds or frost. A soil test never hurts, in case your soil is nutrient-deficient. When magnolias develop brown leaves that then drop off, it can be a sign of iron deficiency.
I had a magnolia tree planted in my front yard over 5 years ago. It blooms, it looks great but it won’t grow in height. It’s approximately 10-12 feet tall and it just stays the same size. Why won’t it grow taller?
Thanks,
Debbie
Debbie,
What type of magnolia tree is it? Do you still have the tag? We would really need to know the full, exact scientific plant name to be able to answer your question properly, as mature heights for magnolia trees vary considerably.
We planted a magnolia tree about 3 – 4 years ago (not sure what kind) in our back yard in NC. All of the leaves turned brown over this winter and I don’t remember it doing that before. We did get a little more snow this year than we have had in a while but we didn’t really have any ice this year like we normally do so I am not sure if the leaves turning brown has anything to do with the weather or not. Is my tree dead or is this normal for some types of magnolias and it should recover and turn green again?
Stephanie,
If you don’t remember the leaves on your magnolia tree turning brown in past winters, then let’s assume you have an evergreen magnolia tree. Unfortunately, the foliage of broadleaf evergreens sometimes suffers winter damage — which may or may not be serious, depending on the severity of the winter weather you experienced. Other than simply waiting to see how the magnolia tree responds this spring, you can perform the test that I described above in this comment #18.
Can you cut a magnolia tree back to keep it small
Stara,
You can cut magnolia trees back in this way, but you might not wish to: drastic cutting tends to ruin their naturally-beautiful shape.
I have a magnolia tree that is looking brown and moldy. After closer look I noticed scales on the braches that looked like ladybugs attached to the bark. I removed all the bugs off the braches and prunned the close the dead ones. Is there anything I can pray the treem the give it a chance to survive?
Pat,
TreeHelp.com has some good magnolia tree care info on this issue:
“Magnolia scale can be satisfactorily controlled with a variety of insecticides if applied when the insects are in the freshly settled crawler stage. This is usually in late August to early September. Sprays applied before the crawlers are present, or after they have become dormant in the overwintering stage will have little effect.”
I live in Central Texas and have a Southern Magnolia. I purchased this tree about three years ago. It was about two foot in height when I bought it. It grew about three feet at the beginning of spring and one of my friends children broke it in half. The following spring it grew two feet and was snapped in half during a hail storm. This spring it has not grown. Beautiful leaves and it blooms a couple of blooms per year. Any hope that it will grow taller?
We just planted a magnolia tree. Once in the ground I removed most of the burlap and then found a wire mesh under it. Is this okay?
I’m considering purchasing a magnolia tree and not certain which type would be best for my environment. I live in North Carolina and have clay dirt.
Eyvonne,
I don’t know of a specific type of magnolia tree that performs best in clay soil. Mix compost into the hole when planting to amend your clay soil, making it airier. You’ll hear stories of magnolia trees growing just fine in clay soil, but they may be exceptions to the rule.
I have an 10yo southern mag. (approx 15′ tall). Never a problem; beautiful blooms, nicely shaped. This Spring 90%+ of all the leaves have turned brown & brittle. The soil is moist. No damage to bark/trunk. What possibly could cause this sudden change? No signs of pest damage on leaves. Could underground insects cause such rapid change?
We have a mature Southern Magnolia that may be about 20 years old, the age of the house that we moved into five years ago. The tree is about 20 feet tall. About a month ago, I noticed that all the leaves on the top section of the tree turned brown and dried out. This brown dry leave condition has moved down the tree so that the top half or more of the tree looks dead, brown dry leaves. The bottom third has green leaves. The soil is moist as it has had good spring rains. The winter was colder than it has been in about 10 years. Gets down in the teens and a few signal digit nights. Anything we can do to save the tree? It looks like its on its way out. It was a beautiful tree.
We live in East Texas and have a huge Magnolia tree in our front yard. It gets full sunlight but the leaves are starting to turn yellow and are falling out. Also the green leaves are starting to look like they are shriveling. What can I do?
Jamie,
I suspect that, due to its injuries, your magnolia tree has not been able to gain height via an established leader. Instead, its misfortunes have perhaps had the same impact as intentional topping. If this is so and you are fortunate, hopefully your magnolia tree will adapt to become a multi-stemmed plant (more shrub-like).
Hi,
I recently used a ground clear and round up in our landscaping areas with white rock. I believe that our magnolia may have been exposed to this. We live in Upstate South Carolina. The leaves have turned yellow and are starting to fall. There are some blooms. The tree is at least 15 years old. Will it survive?
Just moved into my house in January and we have a young magnolia out front. We noticed this spring it began to lose leaves and they were turning brown pretty quick. We also noticed it had Flowers that lasted for about 2 days before they turned brown. Just wondering if anyone has a possible diagnosis for my suspected sick tree.
I have a 80+ year old Magnolia at my home and recently it has started to have several yellowing leaves. I havent lived here too long and would like to know if this is normal for them. I would appreciate any help.
Thanks,
Jack
I noticed in one of your answers you addresses the brown flowers saying the tree could be under watered or over watered or the soil was nutrient deficient. I really think my problem may be the soil. Is there a nutrient or fertilizer you would recommend?
Catherine,
No, definitely remove the wire mesh from the root ball of your magnolia tree.
We have a magnolia tree that was on the property when we bought the house. We have no idea what kind of magnolia it is. It did bloom last year, but we had a hard winter here in Louisville, Kentucky. All the leaves on the top of the tree have turned brown and it has not bloomed. Is there anything we can do to help it? Should be just leave it and see what happens next year. I really don’t want to cut it down.
My sister-in-law in Sardis, MS has the most beautiful magnolia trees that has to be over 150 yrs old with soceer size blooms. My son is getting married in Springdale,AR. Is there a way to preserve the buds or blooms from MS to AR without them browning? They would be picked on Fri morning & used on Sat evening. We would like to put them on the tables for the reception. I know this isn’t about the tree itself. If you can’t help me maybe you can direct me to someone who might can. But I’m sure others would like to know how to treat the blooms if picked. Thank you for your time.
Linda,
Florists use something called a “water tube” to preserve flowers, but I don’t know if the stems of these particular magnolia tree blossoms would fit in or not. The only other thing that comes to mind is refrigeration of some sort (even an ice chest would be better than nothing).
I have a magnolia tree that my grandparents planted years ago. We have not had a lot of rain the past couple of years and it looks sick. We trimmed all the dead branches off of it but it is not growing. Is there any type of fertilizer that I can give it? I would like to do whatever I can to save it.
Hi -
I planted a Magnolia 2 years ago in an area that turned out to be very wet. I noticed that since I planted it the tree got sicker and sicker looking. I think the roots are rotting.
There are still green leaves and buds on the tree, but it is definitely thinning. I just moved the tree (the hole was muck) to a dry area with much better drainage.
My question is, based on the description I’ve given you, and guess on the chances for survival? Anything I can do to amend the new soil around the transplant or anything else to improve the odds of success?
Thanks
Lance
We purchased an old house, build in 1900. We have restored it as much as we could.I love magnolia trees,when is the best time to plant one.We are ready to start our,landscaping.
Thank you,
Portia
Portia,
All else being equal, I’d suggest early spring as the best time to plant magnolia trees.
in our nursery we have alot of trouble with these type of magnolias.They are really bad to get a blight in our late summer drought conditions.We’ve tried growing tose for our wholesale nursery customers but they are never a success.We do have alot of native trees,perennials and plants if anyone form your forum is intrested.
We have a magnolia tree that was planted 4 years ago it has really never looked great but always has white flowers around spring. The leaves never got that real dark green look. Now this summer the leaves started looking a lighter green and bark has mold on it! I Have washed the mold off the bark and noticed at the base of the tree the bark is coming off about 4 inches up! Tree is about 4 inches diameter maybe 13 feet tall. I pulled the loose bark off and under it was a ton of ants. Under bark is still solid but a few bore holes that go in only a little bit I think! I put ant killer around the tree but I dont know if this is a problem with magnolias by the way we are in Florida! Any help would be appreciated! Hate to loose a tree that big !
Thanks! Bill
I live in far northeast Texas, we have had above normal rainfall in the last two years, especially the last couple of months. The ground is so wet it is squishy, and water is standing, more to come tonight and for the next 3 days. I have two Southern Magnolias that were planted shortly before my grandparents bought this property, in 1915. Do I have any reason to be concerned with the ground being so wet? As for now, the trees seem fine, but I am concerned with the ground being as wet as it is and knowing that magnolias do not like overly wet soil.
Thank you.
I planted some magnolia seeds in a jar with sand, dirt from pile of rotting grass, and some soil we got from the store and put under the original tree. Now that they’ve sprouted, what do I do? I have five sprouts.
Bill,
The Autumn Tree Care Experts say:
“Few trees can match the refined elegance of a magnolia in spring. The tree’s charm can be dampened by the onset of magnolia scales, though. The less-than-attractive effects of the pest include the presence of a sticky clear liquid (called “honeydew”) oozing along the branches, black sooty mold growing on the tree’s leaves, and wasps and ants congregating around the tree.”
In other words, the ants may be the effect, not the cause. I’d look into the possibility that you have a problem with scale.
Emily,
Personally, living as I do in zone 5, I would not plant magnolia tree seed sprouts at this time. I’d bring them in for the winter. However, you don’t state where you live (if you live somewhere very warm, that would be a different story).
Jenni,
I think you’re right to feel some concern for your magnolia trees. Having their roots sit in water is hardly ideal. I would consider trying to drain / divert some of the water away from the soil there. One possible way to do this is via a French drain — although it’s difficult if you’re on totally flat ground (to say nothing of trying to dig while there’s standing water).
I have a bueautiful ann magnolia that I need to move and was wondering in Texas when would the best time of year be to move this magnolia. Thanks, Tina
Tina,
The best time to transplant magnolia trees in warm climates is late fall.