A tree the size of yours, newly planted, needs several gallons of water a day. Especially in the summer we have had. It should also be staked to avoid wind rock. It will take several years for the roots to establish. It would help the tree if you thinned out some of the thinnest twigs by about half, to reduce the amount of leaf. It sounds as if you may have been over feeding, a newly planted tree should not be fed, to encourage the roots to search for food. Magnolias do not enjoy being pruned hard and will grow into very large forest trees. Down here in Cornwall there are some huge specimens in gardens, they look magnificent in large areas but they do make a lot of dense shade underneath them where nothing else really grows. Keeping them as dwarf trees will probably mean not having many flowers. They are not an ideal tree to grow in a small to medium-sized garden amongst houses. Magnolias are a lovely tree to see in full flower, with huge goblets of petals and clusters of stamens, many people are tempted to plant them and end up disappointed when they have to remove them because of their size. Good luck with yours,
Watering instructions are meaningless without a knowledge of soil conditions. Trees can drown if overwatered on a heavy clay soil, especially if the roots have been damaged (eg by a move) and cannot wick up the excess water.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
@mbrehony The leaves on your shrub are not suffering from vine weevil damage. It is a very distinct notch along the edges of the leaves. You may have some damage from leaf miners but not a concern. Hope that is helpful.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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Magnolias do not enjoy being pruned hard and will grow into very large forest trees. Down here in Cornwall there are some huge specimens in gardens, they look magnificent in large areas but they do make a lot of dense shade underneath them where nothing else really grows. Keeping them as dwarf trees will probably mean not having many flowers. They are not an ideal tree to grow in a small to medium-sized garden amongst houses.
Magnolias are a lovely tree to see in full flower, with huge goblets of petals and clusters of stamens, many people are tempted to plant them and end up disappointed when they have to remove them because of their size.
Good luck with yours,
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."