Everything you gotta know about growing magnificent magnolia trees.
Judith Watts
Magnolias are one of the most beloved heralds of spring.
These wonderful trees boast showy blooms, sometimes even before their branches have sprouted foliage.
Credit:Judith Watts
And some types of magnolias offer evergreen foliage that has fuzzy copper-colored undersides.
This diverse genus ranges from shrubs or dwarf trees to trees that are over 100 feet tall.
And you might find a throw in of magnolia adapted to nearly everygrowing zone.
Credit: Mary Carolyn Pindar
Magnolias don’t like to be crowded, and once established, they don’t like to be moved.
When left to decompose as a mulch, the leaves provide essential nutrients to the tree.
How and When to Plant a Magnolia Tree
Planting a magnolia is a straightforward process.
Credit: David Speer
Keep in mind that deciduous magnolia varieties are best planted in early spring while dormant.
Mix plenty oforganic compostinto the surrounding soil.
Remove the upper layer of soil from the tree so that the root at the very top is exposed.
Credit:Bob Stefko
Fill the planting hole halfway up with soil, making sure the tree is straight.
Cover with a few inches ofmulch.
Keep young trees well-watered until they’re established.
Credit:Bob Stefko
Magnolia Tree Care Tips
When established in the proper location and climate, magnolias are exceptionally carefree.
Light
For the best flower show, plant your magnolias in full sun.
A few types can manage in part shade, but they prefer full sun.
Credit:Denny Schrock
Don’t let your tree stay too wet for long periods; most magnolias don’t tolerate standing water.
Instead, aim to provide consistent moisture throughout the growing season.
Once established, many varieties are drought-tolerant.
Credit:Gordon Beall
Mulch the top of the root ball to insulate it and wrap the trunk with blankets.
At temperatures below 0F, the tree will likely be damaged.
Magnolia treesgrow best in areas with an average humidity range of 30 to 50 percent.
Credit:Marty Baldwin
Repeat the software in early summer and midsummer, following product label instructions.
Pruning
Keeproutine pruningto a minimum, and do it only after the tree has flowered.
The rest of the time, only prune damaged branches or limbs on an as-needed basis.
Credit:David McDonald
The container must offer excellent drainage.
Pests and Problems
Magnolia trees are resistant to diseases and pests.
What they don’t do well with is damage.
Magnolia wounds are notoriously slow to heal.
Heavy pruning or damage to the trunk or roots can be catastrophic.
For this reason, it’s best not to underplant your tree.
Digging among the roots or inadvertent nicks by lawnmowers or weed trimmers can result in irreversible damage.
How to Propagate Magnolia Tree
Home gardeners can propagate magnolia trees by stem cuttings or seed.
However, stem cuttings have a high failure rate.
Stem Cuttings:Takestem cuttingsin summer after the buds are set.
Prepare small, excellent-draining containers with moistened perlite.
Make a 2-inch vertical slice near the bottom of the cutting and dip it in rooting hormone.
Insert it into the prepared container, and cover it with a clear plastic bag to retain humidity.
Put the containers in indirect light.
Mist them regularly and expect root growth within a few months.
Shake the seeds out.
Scarify the seeds by lightly rubbing them with sandpaper.
Bring them out in spring when the temperature reaches about 70F and plant them in a lightweight planting medium.
Keep the medium moist until the seeds germinate, which usually takes several weeks.
To narrow your choices, first consider hardiness.
In northern climates, selection is much more limited, especially when it comes to time of bloom.
Even if plants are hardy, early-blooming species often lose their flower buds because of late frosts.
So bud hardiness becomes a major issue, especially in saucer-pop in magnolias.
Southern Magnolia Tree
Southern magnolia trees(Magnolia grandiflora) are the grande dames of magnolias.
Suited best to Zones 79,M.
grandifloradoes well in a broad range of climates and is the most prevalent throw in of magnolia.
Japanese magnolias are best suited for Zones 49.
In its native southern climate, it can grow to be 50 feet tall and is evergreen.
It’s hardy in northern climates but will grow as a deciduous or semi-evergreen smaller bush-key in tree.
It features similar blossoms to those of its cousinM.
grandiflora, but they’re much smaller, measuring around 3 inches in diameter.
Its lighter-colored leaves are quite fragrant.
It performs best in Zones 49.
This slow-growing tree reaches 25 feet tall and about 15 feet wide.
The tree grows 20 feet tall and 10 feet wide.
It grows 70 feet tall and 30 feet wide.
It grows 25 feet tall and 40 feet wide.
Zones 6-9
Frequently Asked Questions
In general, magnolia trees attract rabbits, squirrels.
Protect young trees by spraying them with a cayenne pepper and water mixture.
The picture isn’t as clear where deer are concerned.
Some magnolia tree varieties are deer-resistant, but some aren’t.
Hungry deer will nibble on any of them when no other food is around.
It depends on the jot down of magnolia.
