No, they are not evergreen. They lost most of their leaves in early winter, then the rest throughtout the season and put on all new leaves in spring.

I think you're on the right track with the soil test. These things really do like acidic soil. In fact, I might just throw down some agricultural sulphur right now.

I too think exposure may be part of the raggedyness problem. These are natural edge trees and they're not big fans of really exposed conditions. Full sun alone wouldn't necessarily be a problem, but if the site is particularly windy, dessication could be. Not a reason to move them, but certainly a reason to be particularly scrupulous about making sure they get adequate moisture for the first couple of years. Do you do any supplementary watering or have you been letting nature alone?

What about Hollytone fertilizer, or Ironite? Doesn't both of those have a fair amount of sulphur? I'm asking because I see both of those around here a lot.

Not sure about ironite, but hollytone is an acidifer, if that's easier to find that straight sulphur.

I did apply some garden sulphur about 3 weeks ago, and I have noticed some improvement. By the way, I did do a soil test and it came back 7.0, so that's basically neutral, right? I'm thinking of doing another sulphur application soon, is it possible to use too much sulphur?
Moisture is definitely not a problem, as we have had a much wetter spring than normal, and I do water well during dry summers.
I'm still leaning towards the wind exposure reason, although I see many around town in open spots that look good. The leaves on mine seem so tender and soft when then first emerge, and stay that way for a while before they finally thicken and get that glossy, leathery feel that a magnolia should have. But by then they are tattered and crinkled.
I know I have posted this issue 2 or 3 times in the past, but I can't seem to find anyone with personal experience with them. They are alongside the entryway to the driveway, so they are a very focal point. I don't want to even think about removing them or trying to move them, but on the other hand I have not been satisfied with their appearance since I planted them. Any more thoughts or advice is welcome.

The myth of Sweetbay in zone 4: mine died of cold in zone 8.

Never had a problem with cold here in zone 6, never had any winter dieback. That would have had to been a serious cold snap in zone 8 to kill a tree.

Winter dieback sucks. It makes the plant look persistently ugly.

My sweet bay has been in for 3 years in zone 5 and it is doing fine, so I think it is more likely the soil rather than the cold.

They grow wild in north Louisiana where I grew up. Always found them only on creeks or swampy wet places. The soil there is acidic. The climate there is hot and humid. Wind is much milder there than in central Texas. They carry at least some leaves thru the winter. Nice looking trees growing in wet to semi-wet environments.

I agree with the above general concensus -- not a hardiness issue, but probably soil chemistry issue, too alkaline.

I bought my sweetbay as a birthday present for myself in 1995, and it's been going strong here in the n.w. suburbs of Detroit ever since, never had any winter dieback. I planted it on the low side of the property where it gets drainage/runoff during wet spells, and it seems to love it there. Soil is neutral-ish, but I've never had any chlorosis issues or anything. LOVE the fragrance of the blossoms, same as on M. grandiflora, just a smaller flower.

I grow both varieties(Southern large tree growing evergreen M. virginiana var. australis and Northern small tree growing mostly deciduous M. virginiana var. virginiana) and cultivars of both varieties, as well as some intermediate between the 2 described varieties, of Sweetbay Magnolia here in Eastern Kansas. I've never had any die-back or problems with any of them, except one. The one exception is a wild grown seedling from far South Florida, which some people think is distinct and should be a third named variety and which also seems to be almost a sub-tropical tree. So that's another story. I've seen Sweetbay Magnolia planted in open exposed windy sites here in Kansas and yes they do get some of their early leaves beat up a bit. But usually it's not really noticeable at a distance. The evergreen ones can have their leaves beat up and ragged looking in late winter and early spring before new leaves emerge.

So, I'm of the opinion that there's something wrong with the soil in which yours are planted. Near a driveway there's no telling what buried debris around. Limestone gravel, large chunks of concrete, other construction debris, trash, etc. Using soil acidifiers(Aluminum Sulfate, Sulfur, etc.), hollytone, ironite, etc. all could help if it's an alkalinity problem. But you can add too much of some of these things at once, so space out any additional treatments. Also, making sure the trees are well mulched and/or adding compost before mulching could both help out as well.

snasxs, I suspect there's something else wrong with your Sweetbay Magnolia too. I'd be shocked if any Sweetbay had any winter die-back in zone 8, especially if you have hot summers. If you were in a cool summer zone 8 area, then it'd be possible, but still not likely. Even the far South Florida origin ones would only have winter problems in a hot summer zone 8 in cold years.

What happened with your sweet bay?

i just got one and the same thing is happening. Leaves look like they have been munched on. Spots on old leaves. New ones are curling and getting holes.....

Geez, this is an old thread.

My own Sweetbay Mag went into a strange decline last year (definitely not weather related). It developed leaf spots, munching holes, and then weirdest of all..., it seemed to be lose its natural habit of wanting to grow upright and seemed to grow down. That was last Summer. My soil is acid. Up to that point, no problem. I have a bunch of Southern Magnolia (grandifloras), no problem. I ended up removing the Sweetbay and really miss it. Got a other small one but it will be years before it's the same. Is the species prone to any particular ailments?

We had a sweet bay magnolia, that always looked like a Dr Seuss tree. I never could understand why it only had branches in the top 2' of the 15' tree. One day in the spring I sat in the bay windows and realized why the tree grew as it did. That day I watched a squirrel neatly trim all of the lower new branches and carry them off for repairing her nest. Apparently she thought the sweet bay was the preferred building material Our lot had a lot of other trees, pine, sweetgum, regular magnolia, etc. The squirrel left those alone.

I suspect that they may also prefer better drainage and ventilation than other species of Magnolia. I think they really resent water on their leaves over prolonged periods and may have issues after prolonged rainy periods. It's just a hunch. Yes, it's true, they never seem to look too dense, full, or lush. I still think they are terrific trees.

spoke to some people and it could have been a soil issue which you can diagnose by cutting into a branch and see a red line in the inner flesh. I did not have that though. The other was a leaf wilt which I am treating with a copper spray. I will see if that helps. I did notice some spidery like webs but no critters. May send a leaf sample to Cornell cooperative extension.....

Now that you mention it, I think I noticed webbing on mine too. But sometimes all those insect issue (like ants, etc.) come in AFTER the plant is already in decline!