How to Look After a Magnolia Tree

If you want to add some life and vibrancy to your garden, then why not plant a magnolia tree? These hardy trees flower early in the year, which means they’ll add a much-needed splash of color to your garden as winter recedes. Magnolia trees are also easy to manage, making them a perfect choice for those who aren’t gardening experts.

If you’re interested in planting a magnolia tree in your garden, then you can easily buy magnolia trees online. Here’s how you should look after your new tree.

Planting

First of all, you’ll need to plant your tree in your garden. Since these trees flower early in the year, their pink and white blooms are particularly vulnerable to winter frosts. This means you should select a sunny and sheltered spot in your garden to plant your magnolia tree. 

Then, you need to water the tree thoroughly an hour before you remove it from its pot. Dig a large hole in the spot you selected (twice the width of the plant pot) and then remove the tree from its pot. Gently place the tree in the hole and cover the roots with soil, taking care not to damage the delicate root system. If your soil isn’t the best quality, you could add a layer of compost to the subsoil for extra nutrition. 

Watering

While your tree isn’t yet established, you should water it regularly. Regular watering is also needed during the warmer months; you should water your tree each week if the weather is hot. Otherwise, you can just water your magnolia tree when the soil feels dry.

Mulching

Adding a layer of mulch each year will allow your tree to flourish. Mulch is material that’s spread on the ground around a plant to help it grow. Mulch can be an organic material, such as wood chips, straw, and leaves, or inorganic material, such as black plastic and rocks. A layer of mulch will discourage the growth of weeds and improve water retention in the soil. Organic mulch will also add extra nutrients to the soil, making it the best type of mulch. Mulching should be performed once a year in late spring or fall for your magnolia tree.

Pruning

Luckily, with magnolia trees, you won’t have to worry too much about pruning. Generally, you can just let these trees grow naturally, but you can prune them into shape if you prefer this. Make sure you don’t prune a magnolia tree in winter as this can damage it. Pruning should be carried out in mid-summer or early fall if necessary – you’ll just need to remove any dead wood and watershoots. 

If you’re a gardening novice, magnolia trees are one of the best trees to start with. These hardy trees don’t need too much maintenance to flourish, and their large bowl-shaped or star-shaped flowers (which are often pink or white, but can also come in yellow, purple, and green varieties) will add beauty and vibrancy to your garden.

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON

in

Life Advice

Photo of author

Crystal

I'm Crystal. I'm married to Dale, and mother to Johnny. Some might say that my life is perfect because I get to do all the cliché wife things like cooking, cleaning, and decorating - but there's more! I also have many hobbies including needlework (crochet), sewing, and reading. My son's education is important, so we homeschool him together.

Leave a Comment