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Help! Magnolia Grandiflora trees very sick

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  • BluebellsQBluebellsQ Posts: 15
    edited May 2022
    I’m quite nervous at the prospect of transplanting one of the trees. Might try to do so early this autumn, I’ll have to pray that another shock doesn’t kill it  :( I could just leave them to avoid that but I would love them to have long healthy lives and good spreads of leaves
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    Seep hose would be ideal. 
    If you look at trees planted by landscapers they often have perforated 4" plastic pipe wrapped around the root ball and water is poured in the top. It is slowly released close to the roots. But you can only do this at the time of planting.
    If your trees were even slightly root bound when planted it will be very difficult to get water into the root mass. Really slow watering will be needed.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    They will never thrive that close together. You will end up with them both suffering.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'm inclined to agree @punkdoc . They're always going to be compromised to some extent, even if watering well revives one, or both to any degree.  :/
    It's not ideal to move one of them just now, but at the same time, the longer you wait, the more stress the one you leave will be under. 
    Not a problem I'd like to have. 

    Is there any fresh growth at all @lizqueenan?  A couple of close ups would be good.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    With only the two trees I wouldn't bother with a seep hose. You can put your standard hose (without the nozzle/sprayer) at a lowish setting so the water pours slowly and soaks in rather than running off, and leave it on the root zone, then move to the other one.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • BluebellsQBluebellsQ Posts: 15
    edited June 2022
    Hi Everyone, I wanted to thank you all so so much for sharing your knowledge with me in the problems with my magnolias, I am deeply grateful and following your guidance! (Sorry for slow update- we have only just moved in and it has been contractor chaos!)

    MAGNOLIA UPDATE - I have been watering them very very generously three times a week, leaf drop has stopped and shoots have emerged so they look healthier  :)
    BUT!!- tonight I noticed a new problem :( - holes are appearing in some of the leaves, and some of the leaves are looking chewed and ragged- please see the pic of a leaf which has recently fallen with a hole (almost like a burn hole!) in it. Does anyone have any thoughts on what the newest challenge to these lovely trees is please??
    (My reading is making me wonder about vine weevils...)

    I would be very grateful for your wisdom and thank you once again friends for your generosity with advice for a newbie such as myself!
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I assume someone checked you soil PH levels before planting .  Magnolia prefer neutral to acid ,  if you soil is alkaline they may  never reach their full potential. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • BluebellsQBluebellsQ Posts: 15
    I actually didn’t Lyn- the trees were planted by my godfather, and they were planted too close together for a start (plan now is to wait till autumn and try to move them apart). Perhaps if it does test as alkaline, then I can acidify the soil? 
    But do you think alkaline soil is the cause of the holes now appearing in the leaves?
    thank you for looking at my post and sharing your thoughts!
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    There are ways to acidity soil but they are not very practical. Sulphur containing fertilizers is the main way but you can't keep feeding your trees. Some forms of OM will slowly acidity soil.
    Do neighbours grow camellia, azaleas etc. If so, you should be able to grow Magnolia. They are quite tolerant.
  • BluebellsQBluebellsQ Posts: 15
    Hi Kate, we have other kinds of Magnolia on the road, but I will take your advice and test PH! Thank you for taking time to advise me!
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