How to Landscape Magnolia Trees

Magnolia trees add a classic Southern touch to landscapes, offering wide evergreen leaves and fragrant white flowers. Magnolias prefer well-drained soil with consistent moisture and can tolerate planting in areas ranging from full sun to partial shade. These ornamental trees can grow up to 80 feet tall and more than 30 feet wide in the right growing conditions. Magnolia trees offer the home landscaper a stunning focal point that requires moderate maintenance.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Utility knife
• Garden hose and water
• Water soluble fertilizer
• Mulch

Instructions

1. Select the perfect location for your magnolia tree. Choose a site with ample sun as well as good drainage without any incidences of pooling water. Some gardeners prefer to plant magnolias in areas well away from lawns because the tree drops fruit and leaves regularly.

2. Choose a spot that will showcase this stunning plant. Plant on a corner near the home or make the plant a main focal point in the landscape to allow the magnolia to be a centerpiece tree. Allow plenty of room for the tree to expand upward and outward.

3. Dig a hole about two times the size of the magnolia root ball. Pile removed dirt beside the planting hole.

4. Pour 2 to 3 inches of peat moss onto the pile of excavated soil. Stir the peat into the garden soil until mixed well. Peat adds organic material, aeration and drainage abilities to the soil. Scoop two to three shovels full of peat into the excavated planting hole. Substitute with compost or humus if peat isn't available.

5. Place the plant in the hole and gauge the positioning. The top of the root ball should lie slightly above the level of the garden. Add or remove soil from the planting hole as needed to adjust positioning.

6. Cut the outside of the planter pot or strings with the utility knife. Burlap can be planted but should be loosened before putting the magnolia into the ground.

7. Fill in around the root ball with the soil-peat mixture and pat it lightly to firm it. Water the magnolia slowly to allow moisture to seep deeply into the ground around the roots. Check soil moisture levels regularly to monitor water needs until the following growing season.

8. Mulch around the base of the tree but don't mound mulch above the root ball. Apply a loose mulch layer immediately above the root ball.

9. Treat the magnolia tree to regularly monthly fertilizing with a high-quality acidic fertilizer during the first few growing seasons. Decrease the application of fertilizer to two times during the growing season after four to five years.

Tips & Warnings

• Never prune a magnolia unless absolutely necessary.

References

• University of Florida Extension: Southern Magnolia
• University of Georgia Cooperative Extension: Growing Southern Magnolia
• U.S. Forest Service: Southern Magnolia