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Help with frost damaged Magnolia?

glasgowdanglasgowdan Posts: 632
in Plants
I planted two magnolia grandiflora in late autumn and they appear to be blackening off and going rotten at the tips. Is this normal? Will simply trimming off the damaged parts save the plant?

Thanks!

Posts

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    It's frost damage. These trees/shrubs prefer to be planted against a wall/barrier to keep them away from strong cold winds. Not sure where you have planted them but when young, they are not as hardy. The ideal location is a southerly aspect.

    You can prune them back to where you see green branches once the weather is warmer and a bit more settled. Give the shrub a general feed too.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I agree, frost damage and a bit too exposed.

    Wait till the worst of the frosts are over in mid May and then prune back to healthy shoots.   I agree it needs a feed too and would suggest some chelated iron (ercaceous feed) dissolved in rain water, not tap, and a maybe a feed of Epsom salts diluted at a rate of 15ml salts to 5litres of soft water and poured over the foliage.   This will correct magnesium deficiency which also causes leaves to go yellow.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
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  • JeanRJeanR Posts: 16
    I've heard that applying nitrogen-heavy fertilizer when the weathers warms can help in recovery.
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    edited April 2018
    The slight yellowing of leaves could be a number of reasons, and excess damp around the roots on very compacted soils can also be a factor. These Magnolias are much more tolerant of alkaline soils, but they don't like water-logged and excess damp soils when they're still quite young.
  • glasgowdanglasgowdan Posts: 632
    The magnolia have FINALLY started to show new growth at last! I was already starting to plan what I was going to replace them with but this is great news. Both are now covered with plenty fresh shoots so I'm crossing my fingers. 


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