Plant a Magnolia

The Magnolia, it is the tree with stars thanks to its enchanting flowers in the spring! Once well established, it is a plant you can forget about as it is easy to grow. But for this you must really take great care at planting time.

Plant a Magnolia
Plant a Magnolia
Evergreen Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

For the right choice, the right plantation

The range of Magnolias’ varieties is quite large and is getting richer. There is a Magnolia to suit all tastes from the classic purple specimens to the yellow ones: listen to your heart wishes. Nevertheless note that the Magnolia grandiflora, the evergreen Magnolia, can reach up to 30m. If you lack of space, choose the Magnolia Stellata and its varieties. This Magnolia is one of the smallest of its group with a height not higher than 2m. As Magnolias are not pruned, do not count on the secateurs’ help to limit your specimen’s expansion.

Good to know: The Michelias, sometimes classified by botanists with the Magnolias, are grown in the same way. There are smaller and prune well.

Plant a Magnolia

The right place

Choose a rather sunny spot (the ideal is to have a little bit of shade during the first years). The site must not be too hot in summer, except if the soil stays moist, for example if you have placed a watering system at its base. The Magnolia thrives in all situations except one: it is sensitive to wet soils in winter and sticky, compact grounds. A calcareous soil is not a problem but it thrives and is more beautiful if the soil is not too alkaline. If your soil is highly calcareous, then plan to add compost to it each spring. Despite these apparent requirements, the Magnolia is an easy tree to grow: once everything has been well planned and chosen, then the essential is assured.

Plant a Magnolia

How to plant a Magnolia

Planting is easy; the only difficulty is to choose the right spot! Spring and autumn are the best periods to plant a Magnolia especially in colder areas. By the sea, you can plant it anytime during the year. Enrich the soil of the planting hole with compost, dead-leaves compost or, failing that, heath-peat. Then water copiously after planting. Mulch the base of your tree with a layer of pine- bark, pine needles or any other mulch, preferably organic matter.

Plant a Magnolia

A Magnolia in pot

The Magnolia grows well in pot. There are two factors to watch out for: watering and fertilisation. Install an automatic watering-system to ensure that your Magnolia does not dry out in summer. This is the biggest danger for a pot-grown Magnolia. Give it some liquid fertiliser approximately every 6 weeks, from March to August, after watering and in complying with the dose indicated on the packaging.

M. Jean-Michel GROULT
 
Pépinières PLANFOR
1950 Route de Cère
40090 UCHACQ - FRANCE
Tel : (020).7660.0178