A reader asks:
What can I do for my magnolia trees? I purchased two of them but didn’t notice that the leaves had black spots on them until they were already planted. Went back to the store, and ALL their magnolias had these black spots. They told me it was from moisture. The leaves turned brown and fell off.
What you probably have is a problem called “leaf spot.” The problem could very well have originated “from moisture,” as they told you, since leaf spot is a fungus. Leaf spot isn’t generally considered to be a major concern. The recommendation is to rake up and properly dispose of the affected leaves after they have fallen, so the fungus doesn’t spread from those brown leaves to healthy leaves. If your leaf spot problem persists, you could try to battle it with a copper-based fungicide (but follow label instructions very carefully to avoid causing tree damage).
As is often the case, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Properly cared-for magnolia trees are -- all else being equal -- less likely to be affected. Since moisture can facilitate the fungal invasion, try to promote good air circulation by:
- Pruning off branches on the magnolia trees that are rubbing against each other
- Pruning off branches of any surrounding trees or shrubs that may be invading the magnolias' space
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