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Advice on magnolia

libroselibrose Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hello
I moved house in July last year and took this magnolia plant with me. It wasn’t very happy about being moved and lost most it’s leaves but appeared to still be alive.

Normally by this time of year it is in bloom but this year it only has leaves on the lower branches and one flower. Should I trim back the branches that don’t have leaves growing on or leave it as it is?

Posts

  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Not sure about the pruning but I would suggest you clear away the grass from the base - at a minimum for the size of the rootball at least. At that size, your tree won't want the competition for water and nutrients.
    Mid summer wasn't the ideal time to dig up and replant but needs must if you didn't have much choice re the timing.
    All established plants will need time to settle in their new site whatever time of year. Good preparation of the planting site, watering in dry periods is the key.
  • robairdmacraignilrobairdmacraignil Posts: 782
    I'd be inclined to leave it as it is unless there are branches that are clearly diseased, damaged or dead. Bare branches may still produce healthy leaves once the tree is happy it has established sufficient roots to support more growth. Pulling out the grass and other plants immediately around the tree trunk will also help your tree by reducing competition for moisture and nutrients in the soil near the tree. Once the weed competition is reduced and the soil is damp you could add a mulch to the surface around the tree to reduce the growth of further competing vegetation and loss of moisture form the soil surface when the weather is dry.
    https://www.youtube.com/user/sustainableveg/videos
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Definitely clear a large area round the tree, then let it recover, keeping well watered as said.
    Apart from the problems mentioned, if you leave the grass there, you risk damaging the trunk when the grass gets cut. 
    Once it's growing happily, you can look at removing anything obviously dead. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • luis_prluis_pr Posts: 123
    I would clear the area and put some mulch too, like this did in this home:


  • libroselibrose Posts: 4
    Thanks for the advice, I’ve cleared the weeds around it and will leave it and see how it gets on
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's the turf you need to remove - so that you have bare earth forming a circle of at least a couple of feet in diameter. Then water and add a mulch of compost or bark to help keep weeds at bay  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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