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Magnolias
lauriebeth74
Posts: 2
in Plants
Hello. I have just bought 3 small ( 40/50 cm) magnolias and I was hoping for some advice on the best way to plant and care for them.
Thank you in advance.
Laura.
0
Posts
Hi Laura
There are many species and varieties of Magnolia, some are very vigorous, some very slow growing and can have very variable lifespans so it would help us if you can tell us what species or variety they are. In general they dislike poor sandy soils and do well on clay soils a long as they are not waterlogged. Most prefer a slightly acid soil but some do tolerate limy soils.
Spend a lot of time preparing their planting hole, this will repay you in the long run. Mix compost and slow release fertilizer [such as blood fish and bone] with soil you have removed from your planting hole [square holes better for plants that have been in pots] and gently spread roots out in the hole. When you refill the soil do it to the same level on the stem as it was in the pot. It is usual to plant level with surrounding ground unless your soil gets wet in winter in which case the plant should be on a shallow mound. Water the pot before planting and water again once planted. For the first summer you will need to water it regularly.As they are only 40-50 cm high they should not require staking.