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Edith Bogue Southern Magnolia question

Jeff Ashenfelter

12 years ago

I planted a Southern Magnolia in late April and have watered it almost daily. When we got it it was very full of leaves. Now it continues to grow new leaves at the tips but the old leaves continue to turn yellow and fall to the ground. It still looks nice but I'm worried that all the leaves are going to fall off. Is this a normal cycle or am I doing something wrong?

Featured Answer

Embothrium

12 years ago

Premature yellowing and shedding of oldest leaves IS one sign of over-watering.

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Comments (8)

brandon7 TN_zone7
12 years ago
Only time, more information, or pictures will tell.
brandon7 TN_zone7
12 years ago
OK, that may have been a bit grouchy. It's just that we get sooooo many of these posts that ask the same basic question (What's happening with my newly planted tree?) without enough info.

The fact that you are watering it daily is certainly one huge red flag. Maybe you could tell us more (especially about how the tree was planted) and post a few pictures.

Here is a link that might be useful: Planting a Tree or Shrub
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hi one indication that what you read is NOT correct.. might be the fact that no local nursery carries them ... dont you think ... not much help??? ... lol ... southern mail order suppliers make all kinds of ALLEGED zone claims .... that may or not hold true in the great white north ... there is THEORY.. and then there is reality ... in reality .. it will .. most likely ... all depend on your little micro climate ... and it seems you know this.. when you say you want to 'TRY' .... have you ever seen one locally???? you might try contacting The Chicago Botanic Garden and seeing what their thoughts are in this regard .... i am also aware that Hidden Lakes Gardens in Tipton MI [just SW of ann arbor] has a magnolia collection .... see link .... you might want to contact them as they should be close in zone to you ... and see if they have any southern magnolia .... good luck ken Here is a link that might be useful: link
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Our soil is on the sandy side and the ball had about 2 ft of space around it when we sat it in the hole. Added some micorrhizae at planting, 3" of mulch and watered it every day for 20 mins the first week. I didn't physically plant it myself but when I questioned the burlap and wire - they said the ball would fall apart and that would not be good for EB's delicate roots. (Tree is approx. 10' tall and ball is huge.) As for the Pear tree - it's a decent wind barrier from the north but I agree - wish it was something else. Right now EB is experiencing some transplant shock and leaves are yellowing from inside of tree. Nursery told me that might happen to the point of complete defoliation within the first year.
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Where did you get it from? I'm in SW Pa and there are not many nurseries here other than big box stores that sell trees. Anyway, I have a plain southern mag (evergreen) that remained evergreen last winter, I would'nt worry about one that is said to be more cold hardy than the plain evergreen Magnolia Grandifolia. As far as staking I would stake high and give it room to move back and forth a bit. Using 2 stakes and a loose rope/string.
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some lady from a garden center is to come look at the dead river birch that shouldn't have died in 3 weeks, too bad yesterday it was trashed, it had no roots..she was to come 2 days back and didn't, I dont hold breath.. ISsue with magnolia, I had the soil too boggy, the issue is sometime more recently she started losing all her bright right top feeder roots, lower down, they are not white, perhaps they aren't meant to be.. I planted her shallowly as the nursery had her, but even now I see 99% of time, what's in a pot is still too deep..the base, I'm trying to realize the "flare" is a big different... I'm just watching... it's one of my last trees, ya know...I would buy small but have had too much bad luck online places (plus shipping).. but now due to difficulty with strength .. they don't like to sell small.. I don't have the money Ken, I'm obsessed as it's my outlet for dealing with the rest of my out-of-control.. and I used to have a gorgeous yard... and i'm an outside freak, can't be in... always was like that..I've been careless, too much, thinking.. not thinking clearly.. Sorry if I wasn't clear, but all your answers helped a lot, thanks for taking the time..you are very kind! Oh, everyone tells me magnolias don't like clay...but oh well, I can't move another thing to a pot... I've no ... I hate life sometimes, it comes at you and never seems to give you a break.. I guess I deal with "stress" through the garden, until I can't anymore... I love the garden, just...wish I had ...a brain.. THanks again,amy
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jqpublic
12 years ago
Southern Magnolias shed their older leaves in the spring/early summer. They yellow and fall down.
User
12 years ago
Ditto what jqpublic states. All M.grandifloras varieties will shed some of their older leaves in the Spring (peak seems to be in May for me). June brings robust new growth and flowering. Still, watering them every day sounds excessive. Some of the lost foliage may be related to transplant shock--Magnolias are not the best transplanters (due to brittle shallow roots.) But it should grow out of any stress damage. PS., Are Edith Bogues hardy though in 5B or is this an experiment?
Jeff Ashenfelter
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the responses. I have seen Edith Bogues, Brackens Brown Beauty's and maybe other varieties that have survived our winters for years and look great. Some are quite large. I'll try watering it a little less frequently. Thanks again!
calliope
12 years ago
Yes, this is pretty common in southern magnolias and my Edith Bogue is looking rattier this spring than she usually does and I'm chalking it up to enough rains this year to warrant building an ark.
MisterTristern
12 years ago
I don't your particular cultivar, but my SM didn't do much the first year I transplanted. Very little growth all season and then some cold damage the following winter had me sweating bullets. This year, it was off to the races and it has already grown 1.5 feet in height since March! The earlier poster had it right I think they don't handle transplanting well. Hopefully, if it was rootbound you unwound that taproot at the bottom.

Also remember that certain soil types (like clay) which magnolias tend to like also have a tendency to retain water.

MT

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