you should have started your own post.. where are you in IN ... north or south ... are SOUTHERN mags really viable where you are ... of was bigbox selling them in the wrong location??? did you have the recent frost/freeze event that much of the midwest had ... a tree planted last year shouldnt need water.. this early in spring ... so i doubt water is an issue ... release it from the shipping stake.. to insure those green bands arent strangling it.. if you need a real stake.. we can advise on such are those new leaves.. or is it evergreen for you??? imo.. never .... ever.. use rubber mulch for plants.. its for playgrounds ... mulch breaks down and improves the soil .. rubber will be there for the rest of earths existence ... thats not good. .. what is your base soil .. do you remember from when you planted it??? ... and how did yu plant it? ken

If you decide to water, be sure to water slowly and deeply, over the entire root area. Mulching out to the drip line, or beyond it, would also help keep whatever moisture you add to the soil, IN the soil. Mulch using whatever organic mulch you opt for, as widely as possible, no deeper than 4", and put no mulch in the 2-3" right next to the trunk. If you have been doing any digging near the tree, stop. Try to plan for any future digging to be well away from the magnolia roots - they are brittle, fleshy, and resent disturbance - keeping in mind that the ends of the roots are several feet, at the least, beyond the ends of the branches.

I bet they recover ... unless there is poor drainage. I had two medium sized magnolias moved with a tree spade... around eight years ago. Took three years for one of the trees to start looking good again. Check for the usual: Are they properly mulched? Not planted too deep?

In addition to photos of both on the web Monrovia has been sending large tubbed 'Kay Parris' to sales yards here where these can be viewed near 'Little Gem' of similar stature. One retailer I frequent had rows of the two selections presented side-by-side last year, enabling easy comparison of foliages and growth habits. 'Little Gem' has been very common here for some time, making its appearance and performance under our conditions - generally similar to those of Britain and Northern Europe - quite familiar. In addition to its small parts it consistently stands out for often being a deeper green than many other southern magnolias are on local soils. My experience with this highly popular item includes viewing one in a southern California garden center compound that appeared to be about 42 ft. tall. Personnel on hand reported that a mucky muck from Monrovia - who markets it as "dwarf" - had told them such height was most unusual for this plant. Yet my recollection of the illustrated Magnolia Society account of the original variant showed and described a tall narrow column. (College libraries housing complete sets of this journal will have the relevant issue, published some years ago now). Of those that are currently in general commerce my preference is for 'Bracken's Brown Beauty', due to its comparatively normal looking - as in less magnolia-like - foliage and habit.