So, you have purchased one or more magnolias (deciduous or evergreen) and need to know how to look after your new treasures. Well, the news is all good, for magnolias are very easy to grow. You would expect such aristocrats to be like racehorses, very temperamental, but not so. They need no particularly special treatment when planted and thereafter.
Except for judicious pruning, and regular fertilizing, they are virtually carefree. Pests and diseases are relatively few (see page 5). The only downside is that they can be expensive to purchase, but I think you would be hard-pressed to find a gardener that regretted the expenditure. Little, if anything, surpasses the exquisite beauty of a magnolia bud, except the flower that follows.
Siting
Before planting anything, it is necessary to study the site that you think might suit. First of all, do what I often have not, and that is leave plenty of space for growth. Firstly so you get a specimen, not an amorphous mass, and secondly, if the trees are too closely planted the bottom branches die, which is not pretty. Another reason to be careful in your choice of site is that magnolias, with their spreading root system, do not transplant well, as much of the root system is lost during the move.
Magnolias like sun, so make sure they will get this benefit at least a good part of each day. Only the very large-leafed magnolias, such as Magnolia macrophylla (zones 5-9) need part-shade. Most plants do not like strong winds, so avoid this curse, but other than this magnolias are not particular.
If your garden is sloping you are fortunate indeed, because magnolias may be planted on the slopes so that you look down upon them. I imagine that is how the early plant hunters saw them as they walked along ridges looking into the valleys of magnolia in flower. We can't quite manage such splendor, but in a small way we can replicate this beauty.
Page 1 of 5 – Find out how to go about planting magnolias on page 2.
