How to Transplant a Very Young Magnolia Tree

Magnolia flowers

The magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is a hardy tree that grows mainly in the southern parts of the United States. Magnolias are characterized by large, glossy, oblong leaves and showy white blossoms that develop during spring and summer. The white blossoms of the magnolia tree emit a pleasant aroma that is often used in perfumes. Magnolias are fast-growing trees; transplanting is best done while the trees are young.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Shovel
• Pruning shears
• Mulch
• Water

Instructions

1. Cut back the roots of the tree to make it easier to transplant by inserting a shovel into the soil to cut them. Place a tape measure around the trunk of the tree to determine the diameter. If the diameter is less than 32 cm, cut the roots at a 1.2 m distance from the base of the tree. For diameters over 33 cm, add an additional 30 cm in distance for every 7.5 cm increase in diameter.You will be cutting through the roots of the magnolia tree, if they extend out this far. Continue inserting the shovel into the soil until you make a complete circle around the tree. Cutting back the tree roots should occur early in the summer to give the roots time to recover prior to transplanting.

2. Prune back the lower limbs of the magnolia tree with pruning shears, if desired. Pruning is needed to create a more desirable shape and to reduce the amount of foliage that must be supported by the reduced root system. To force the tree to bush out, prune one or two vertical limbs. To encourage more vertical growth, prune one or two of the lower, outward-growing limbs.

3. Wait until fall to actually transplant the magnolia tree. Use a shovel to dig a hole in the new location. The hole should be twice as deep as the root ball of the magnolia tree. A good estimate for the hole depth is around two feet deep, if the depth of the root ball you will be removing is one foot. A magnolia's root system is usually shallow.

4. Fill half of the hole with mulch, leaves or humus-rich material to provide adequate drainage.

5. Insert a shovel into ground at the location of the circle that was made previously around the magnolia to be transplanted. Work your way around the circle. As you insert the shovel, lean back on it slightly to loosen the soil under the tree.

6. Grasp the base of the magnolia and lift it from the ground. Do not knock off the soil from the roots of the tree.

7. Insert the tree into the newly dug hole so that the top of the root ball is at the surface of the ground, and cover the roots completely with soil. Flood the hole as dirt is being replaced, to eliminate air pockets. Pack the soil firmly around the base of the tree. Add an additional circle of dirt completely surrounding the tree, at the drip line of the tree. This ridge, or berm, is used to hold water for the tree.

8. Water the magnolia tree daily with one to two inches of water placed inside the berm. Daily watering is required for two to three weeks until the tree's roots become established in the soil.

References

• Floridata: My Magnificent but Messy Magnolias
• City of Vancouver: Root Protection and Pruning