How To Plant, Grow And Care Magnolia Tree

The success of growing a magnolia tree heavily depends on the timing and location of when and where you plant them. Here are a few factors that you may not have been aware of and should consider to increase your chances of success:

Light

The magnolias love the sun, you can plant them where you're bound to get full sun conditions but, a bit of shade is fine as well. If you live in the hot tropics, it is paramount to plant in the shade.

Always check the specifications of your magnolia species. For example, tulip magnolia is prone to frost cracking when the ground freezes and the sun heats it rapidly. They should be planted in a northern sunny zone whereas, magnolia siboldii prefers shade rather than the sun and is winter frost hardy.

Spacing

Give your magnolia enough space since they grow as wide as 40 feet (12 m) and 80 feet (24 m) tall. They can only develop properly if they have enough space, if possible allow them 86 feet-square (8m sq) of space for each tree.

Don't plant anything sun-hungry beneath them as they get smothered by the stature of the tree as well as the falling magnolia leaves.

Soil

Magnolias best grow in sandy, loamy, and clay soils with a preference for a pH value of 5.5-6.8, therefore the soil should be slightly acidic. If you've noticed, clay and sandy soil are opposites of each other and that's because the magnolia has many species so you can adapt to both conditions by planting different magnolias.

Lastly, the Magnolia's soil should be kept moist but also well-draining as waterlogging should be avoided at all costs. Provide proper drainage if the soil isn't naturally well-draining.

Planting Time

The best time to transplant a magnolia is during its dormant period between October and March. However, it's still possible to do this during November or February when the weather is more hospitable. 

If you are planting the seeds then spring is the most obvious choice and propagating magnolia via its buds cuttings is best done in the summer. However, once planted all magnolias are virtually impossible to move again.

There are three ways for you to grow magnolia trees: seeds, saplings, and stem cuttings. Stem cuttings produce flowering trees as soon as two years, whereas seedlings may take closer to 10 years. 

If you want to know how to grow magnolia from seeds and saplings, here is everything that you will need to know:

Step 1: Obtain Fresh Seeds

Magnolias produce seeds from cones, so obviously either collect seeds from fallen magnolia cones that are opening and releasing seeds, else pick up a fresh cone and put it in a dry place until it finally opens.

Shake out the seeds and then you can refrigerate them up to 3-6 months after cleaning. Otherwise, you can simply buy them from the local gardening store. 

Step 2: Activating The Seeds

Activating the magnolia seeds is a lengthy process. Soak the freshly extracted seeds in lukewarm water overnight and clean all the pulp coverings. Throw away any seeds that float as those are bad ones. Weaken the seeds by lightly rubbing them with sandpaper.

To germinate, magnolia seeds must go through stratification. Plant them in moist sand/seed-starting mix and place them in the refrigerator for 3 months. When you bring it out, it signals the seed winter has passed and it's safe to germinate.

Step 3: Germinating Seedlings

Start in spring when the temperature reaches about 70°F (21°CF). Cover the seeds with 1/4 inch (0.5 cm) of a lightweight planting medium and keep the soil regularly moist until your seedlings emerge. This process usually takes a few weeks.

Although Magnolias prefer the sun, they are extremely delicate as young seedlings and should be protected from the harsh sun. A layer of mulch will help them retain moisture and protect them from strong or harsh sunlight.

Step 4: Prepare The Garden 

Remember that Magnolias need a pH value of between 5.5 and 6.8, therefore the soil where you are planting should be slightly acidic. Alternatively, you can also achieve this by pouring a sack of peat soil into the transplant site by digging a hole and mixing it with the excavated soil.

Peat is a cheap solution but if possible, go for more expensive alternative solutions such as sulfur, iron sulfate, acidic fertilizer, etc as peat can result in the compacting of the soil.

Step 5: Transplant the Seedlings

Now that your seedling/nursery sapling is sufficiently robust, you may transplant it. Once you have prepared your site by digging a hole and mixing in an acidic plant-friendly substance, place the root ball in the middle of the hole. Lightly press the soil over it and water the area well.

Do not pile soil up around the trunk as you should never plant the tree deeper than it was before. Since they prefer moist roots, mulching will help retain water in the soil despite their full sun requirement.

After planting your Magnolias, you should care for them by providing the right conditions for them to grow and thrive. Below are some recommendations made by our team regarding how to achieve the best conditions for Magnolia:

Growth Habit

Magnolia trees have a moderate growth rate of 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) per year. Don't let this fool you, despite their modest vertical growth magnolia roots grow so they should be given 50 feet (15 m) of space for each tree. Neglecting this stuns the magnolias.

While some magnolias are evergreen, the majority are deciduous. Thus avoid planting any delicate sun-loving plants below the magnolias as their falling leaves can smother and suffocate those delicate flora in the fall.

Watering

Once properly established, magnolias can be drought-tolerant. However, for the first 3-6 months, young magnolias need to be watered two or three times per week. After that, water them weekly for the first two years. A good rule of thumb is to give two gallons (7.6 l) of water for every inch in trunk diameter.

Prevent water logging at the roots by using loamy or well-draining soil. Additionally, if it's really hot, you may need to water more frequently. Leaves on the tree will begin to droop if you are overwatering.

Temperature and Humidity

Most magnolia trees prefer warm and humid climates and thus maintain an average humidity range of 30 to 50 percent. Their seedlings are susceptible to frost damage and most varieties may need protection when temperatures fall to 20°F (-7°C). Mulch the top of the rootball for insulation and wrap the trunk with blankets.

Most magnolias can handle the USDA hardiness zone of 4-10 but if temperatures reach 0°F (-18°C), there is a high likelihood of damage. So, if you live in colder regions, get a cold-resistant cultivar like the Sweet Bay. 

Fertilizing

For best growth, fertilize the tree with a granular, balanced, and slow-release organic fertilizer in early spring such as the 14-14-14 or 10-10-10 NPK formulation fertilizer before the flower buds fully form. You can reapply this in early summer and midsummer or follow the product label instructions.

When they are well established, you can get away with fertilizing once a year in early spring. Because of their wide root system, spread the fertilizer wide up to 10 inches (25 cm) away from the trunk base. 

Magnolias can also be grown from different propagation techniques such as stem cuttings, grafting, and layering. However, we will only cover the first technique as it is simple compared to other techniques which may require more specialized care and equipment not typically found for casual home gardening.

Stem Cuttings

During summer, after the buds are set use sharp pruners to cut 6-inch (15cm) cutting and place immediately in water. Remove all leaves except the ones at the top. Fill a small well-draining 10-12 inch (25-30cm) container with moistened perlite.

Make a 2-inch (5cm) vertical slice near the bottom of the cutting and dip it in a rooting hormone. Afterward, insert them into a prepared container and place them in a bright location covered with a plastic bag to retain humidity. Mist regularly and expect root growth within a few months.

Here we have classified magnolias by type while taking into consideration their species and flowering habits:

1. Evergreen Magnolias

Nowadays, evergreen magnolia is synonymous with the classic Southern magnolia and fragrant white blossoms. Their seedlings can take up to 10 years before being capable of blooming and their dense shade year-round shade and shallow roots make it impossible to grow grass beneath the canopy and their roots can crack the pavement if not spaced properly. 

Some of their selections include:

• M. Grandiflora: 'Alta', 'Edith Bogue', 'Little Gem', 'Majestic Beauty', 'St. Mary', 'Timeless Beauty', 'Victoria'.
• M. Virginiana: 'Moonglow', 'Mardi Gras', 'Green Shadow', 'Sweet Thing', 'Tensaw'

2. Deciduous Magnolias With Saucer Flowers

This group is often called tulip trees because of their saucer-shaped bright flowers. Early-flowering selections are prone to frost damage. Unlike their evergreen counterparts such as the "Sweet Bay", these magnolias are incapable of tolerating heavy wind or salt sprays.

And while they are more consistently vulnerable to late frost compared to other magnolias, a successful spring blooming of their "tulips" rewards you in plenty for all that sweat and hard work.

Some of their selections include:

• M. Soulangeana: 'Alba Superba', 'Alexandrina', 'Black Tulip', 'Rustica Rubra', 'Verbanica'
• M. Sprengeri: 'Diva', 'Lanhydrock', 'Wakehurst'

3. Deciduous Magnolias With Star Flowers

If you are looking for a bunch of non-temperamental magnolias then this group should be your first pick. Magnolias found in this group are not only cold-hardy but most of them are also tolerant of excessive heat and well-capable of adapting to their new less than ideal habitat. Their flowers resemble many-armed stars and are also full of fragrance and they don't deserve any less praise than their aforementioned brethren. 

Some of their selections include:

• M. Stellata: 'Centennial', 'Dawn', 'Royal Star', 'Two Stones'
• Pink Blooms: 'Rosea', 'Jane Platt', 'Rubra', 'Water Lily'

4. Other Magnolia Species

Owing to the total available diversity and hybrids of magnolia, it's not always possible to classify them as easily as the previous bunch of magnolias. However, they are no less deserving of praise and attention. Some of them are:

• Bigleaf Magnolia
• Fraser Magnolia
• Ashe Magnolia
• Oyama Magnolia