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Moving a Magnolia

Katherine.batchKatherine.batch Posts: 4
in Plants
hello

I’m looking at moving house in about 2 weeks time. I’ve got a Magnolia Susan that my Nana bought for me many years ago. I thought I’d be staying in this house for ever, some when I moved I put it into the border. This was 7 or 8 years ago now. 
I really want to take it with me. But I’m worried it’s too big to move now and won’t survive. 
I’ve tried taking cuttings, with no success. Used compost, half compost half vermiculite and all vermiculite. 
My sister is buying my current house, so I’ll be able to come back any time of the year is now isn’t a good time to move it. 
Looking at the photos would it be possible to move? If so any tips gratefully received! One photo shows it 7 or 8 years ago when first planted here and the others are from about a month ago.

Thanks for reading! 


Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited October 2023
    I really wouldn’t try to move it … whenever you did it, the roots would be damaged and it would have problems re-establishing 
    Think of there being as much growth below ground as above, and you’ll see the scale of the task you’re  contemplating.  It could be done by experts but they would charge you a great deal and its aftercare would be considerable with no guarantee. 

    Far better to plant a new ‘Susan’ in recognition of your Nana’s love for you and to further increase the beauty her gift gave to your world. Not one magnolia but two .., twice the beauty, twice the love … 💚 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    I think it is worth the risk.
    A local friend in Perthshire was moving house..he was an expert gardener and had taught students in the past.
    He gave his precious huge Magnolia ( much larger than yours) a severe pruning in the autumn after the leaves  had dropped and successfully moved his very mature specimen the following year.
    With no leaves on yours will not look nearly so large...you may manage it without a severe prune.
    He had time to dig a trench right round it to sever any long roots, he back filled the moat with fresh soil and move it  the following year after new feeder roots had grown.
    It will be a lot of work for you.
    No time now to find a video of what to do. I will look later.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That's the method I was thinking about @Silver surfer . You can do it with lots of shrubs [they showed it on Beechgrove a few years ago with a camellia ]  but it takes a long time because of waiting for the regrowth in the root system. I don't think that's possible as the OP is moving soon.
    You could try just digging and potting up or using  large sack etc, but it's going to be hit and miss as to whether it would survive.
    You would also need to have informed the estate agent and buyer that you were removing it. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    As your sister is moving in, i assume you will always have access?
    If so, you could try propagating by air layering. There is loads of info online showing how it is done.
    Sunny Dundee
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I missed that bit @Balgay.Hill!
    In that case - the digging a trench method might be ok, assuming the OP's sister doesn't mind losing the shrub.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • McRazzMcRazz Posts: 440
    If you're thinking of digging it up, which is entirely possible, i'd also consider air potting it for a minimum of three months after the start of the new growing season, preferably somewhere relatively sheltered. Think of it as a type of plant ICU. 

    https://www.google.com/search?q=air+pot&rlz=1C1GCEB_enGB788GB788&oq=air+pot&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIJCAEQABgKGIAEMhAIAhAuGMcBGLEDGNEDGIAEMg0IAxAAGIMBGLEDGIAEMgkIBBAAGAoYgAQyBwgFEAAYgAQyCQgGEAAYChiABDIHCAcQABiABDIHCAgQABiABDIJCAkQABgKGIAE0gEHODYyajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    This video maybe helpful.
    Dig trench this autumn. to sever any bigger roots.
    Maybe move it to new site next spring after new roots have grown

    https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&sca_esv=575201999&hl=en-US&tbm=vid&q=How+to+transplant+a+large+Bush&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwju3fri8oSCAxVRQEEAHVpIBusQ1QJ6BAgJEAE&biw=1280&bih=595&dpr=1.5#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:b79756bf,vid:wFbNtIbB4EY,st:0
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • Katherine.batchKatherine.batch Posts: 4
    Thanks to everyone for all your comments! It’s given me hope! 
    I think I’ll wait until it’s dropped its leaves and see how big it looks and take it from there. 
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