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- Magnolia trees are easy to grow and add interest and beauty to your landscape. The most easily recognized of the varieties is the Southern Magnolia, with its big glossy leaves and large white, fragrant blossoms. But varieties of Magnolia, including both evergreen and deciduous trees, grow throughout the United States. The trees are generally used as specimen plants, as they grow to be quite large, reaching from 60 to 80 feet in height. Mature trees thrive in any environment, but prefer acidic soil. Leaves that fall from the tree in the summer and can be left on the ground to provide a natural mulch for the plant. The trees require minimal care, with pruning only needed to cut out weak or unhealthy branches.
- Newly planted magnolias need to be watered daily, unless it rains, during the first season after planting. The tree is recovering from being transplanted and should not be allowed to dry out. After the first year when the tree is well-established, supplemental watering is only needed during times of drought.
- Magnolia trees need annual fertilizing until they are several years old and well established. If your soil is acidic, fertilize your trees in the fall with a slow-release granular all-purpose tree fertilizer. If you have alkaline soil, use an acidic fertilizer, such as a type used for azaleas or rhododendrons, to add acidity to the soil. To determine the amount of fertilizer needed, measure the diameter of the trunk of your tree four feet up from the ground. Sprinkle 1 cup of dry fertilizer per inch of diameter, around the tree. Distribute the fertilizer out to 1½ feet beyond the drip line to take advantage of rainfall, which will help the fertilizer soak in. Avoid letting the fertilizer touch the trunk of the tree. As your tree becomes mature, additional fertilization is not needed, particularly if the lawn surrounding is fertilized and the tree is mulched with organic material.
- Magnolias benefit from mulching in the spring with organic matter, such as wood chips, bark chips or shredded leaves. Apply 2 to 4 inches of the material around the base of the tree. For young trees spread the mulch two feet out from the base. Spread it in a slightly larger area as the tree matures. Mulch protects the base of the tree and the roots from damage from lawn equipment, discourages weeds, retains moisture and conditions the soil. This becomes important as the tree matures, as organic mulching material decomposes and enriches the soil. Renew the mulch throughout the season to insulate the roots against freezing and thawing in the winter season.
About Magnolia Trees
Watering
Fertilizing
Mulching
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