Magnolia
Water deeply through the first two to three summers — the shallow, fleshy roots resent drying out and dislike being disturbed once settled.
Care
Shelter from early morning sun in a frost pocket, which scorches frosted flowers as they thaw too quickly.
Dislikes drying out, especially while establishing and while next year's flower buds are forming.
Fertile, humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil, ideally slightly acidic to neutral.
Minimal — remove only dead or damaged wood, ideally right after flowering; avoid unnecessary pruning, as cuts are slow to heal.
A mulch of leaf mould or compost each spring, plus an ericaceous feed on chalky soil. The fleshy roots sit close to the surface, so mulching matters more than fertiliser and digging around the base does real harm.
Layering a low branch is the realistic route and takes a couple of years. Most garden magnolias are grafted or raised from carefully timed softwood cuttings under mist, neither of which is a home proposition.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- MarchEnjoy the spring flower display.
- AprilTrim only if necessary, right after flowering finishes. how ›
- JuneWater well in dry spells to protect next year's developing flower buds. how ›
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchEnjoy the spring flower display.
- AprilTrim only if necessary, right after flowering finishes. how ›
- JuneWater well in dry spells to protect next year's developing flower buds. how ›
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. Browned petals after a cold snap, worse if sited in early morning sun.
What to do. Site away from early morning sun and frost pockets.
How to spot it. Bracket fungi at the base, dieback.
What to do. Remove affected wood; avoid replanting another susceptible tree in the same spot.
Popular varieties
Questions
Magnolia: is it hardy?
H6: Hardy in the vast majority of UK gardens. It survives down to −20 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Compact cultivars (e.g. stellata types) do well in a large pot for many years; larger cultivars need open ground long-term.
Magnolia: when do you prune it?
Minimal — remove only dead or damaged wood, ideally right after flowering; avoid unnecessary pruning, as cuts are slow to heal. In the calendar for UK, pruning falls in April.
Magnolia: when does it flower?
In the climate of UK it flowers in March–April.
When do you feed it?
A mulch of leaf mould or compost each spring, plus an ericaceous feed on chalky soil. The fleshy roots sit close to the surface, so mulching matters more than fertiliser and digging around the base does real harm. Feeding months, UK: April.