Magnolia is an incredibly beautiful tree with delicate and extraordinary flowers from the Magnolia family. There are more than 200 different species of this plant.
Despite the fact that it is not so easy to care for magnolia, this tree is still a favorite of many gardeners. It attracts with its delicate, delicate aroma and extraordinary beauty. This article will tell you in detail about the rules for planting, growing and caring for magnolia in the open field.
Description of magnolia
The trunk of a magnolia can be either brown or gray, the surface of the bark is smooth, with grooves or scales. The tree can reach a height of 5 to 20 meters, sometimes much higher. The buds of the tree are quite large and elliptical in shape. The flowers are axillary or bisexual terminal, can have a white, cream, lilac or purple hue. The petals of the flower have an oblong shape and seem to be covered with a thin layer of wax on top. The tree begins to bloom in spring, less often in early summer. Magnolia is not only said to be beautiful, but also useful. In China, magnolia is considered a medicinal plant and is used in Chinese medicine. It contains essential oils that help fight diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, hypertension and rheumatism, and are also an excellent antiseptic.
Planting magnolia
It is necessary to plant a tree in a sunny part of the garden, where there are no drafts and strong winds. Magnolia needs special soil, fertile loose soil that is rich in organic matter is most suitable. Avoid planting the tree in sandy, limed or greasy, heavy soil. For planting, you must choose seedlings that have at least two living buds. The height of the seedling should be at least one meter, and the root system should be located in the container, but in no case outside of it. A seedling whose root system is outside the container is unlikely to grow into a beautiful, strong and powerful tree that will delight with abundant and long flowering.
The best time to plant magnolias outdoors is from early to late October. Saplings that are planted in autumn take root faster and better. Sometimes magnolia is planted in spring, but this period is considered less favorable, since suddenly returning frosts can destroy a seedling that has not yet had time to take root well in a new place.
Before planting, it is necessary to prepare pits, which should be two to three times the size of the root system of the seedling. At the bottom of the pit, first place a drainage layer (pebbles, broken brick, expanded clay), then a thin layer of sand and pour a little enriched soil on top. It is very simple to prepare the enriched soil, it is enough to mix the soil with rotted compost and a small amount of sand.Then, in the middle of the pit, you need to place a seedling and sprinkle it with the prepared soil mixture, then tamp the soil well and water it abundantly. After the moisture has been absorbed, it is necessary to mulch the soil around the tree with peat, sawdust, dry leaves, hay or straw. This will allow not only to retain moisture in the soil longer, but also to weed less often.
Magnolia Garden Care
Watering
Magnolia is a moisture-loving garden tree. It must be watered regularly and very abundantly. Special watering is necessary for young seedlings, which are still less than three years old. Watering magnolia is only necessary with warm water, avoiding stagnation of moisture. After each watering, it is necessary to carefully and thoroughly loosen the soil around the tree so as not to damage the root system, which is located in the upper layers of the soil.
Top dressing and fertilizers
After the tree is three years old, you need to start fertilizing the magnolia. Top dressing should be applied in the first half of the growing season. As an organic fertilizer, you can use mullein solution, compost solution or rotted manure. Balanced mineral fertilizers, which are specially designed for garden trees, are also excellent. It is quite simple to buy them, such fertilizers are sold in almost every store for gardeners and summer residents. Such fertilizers must be applied once a month. All fertilizers are applied exclusively in the form of solutions. The main thing is not to overdo it with fertilizers, this will lead to premature drying of the leaves and their falling off.
Transfer
Magnolia does not tolerate transplanting very well, so this process should be taken with special responsibility. In order for the tree to better take root in a new place, it is necessary to leave a large earthen lump on the root system. Water the magnolia with plenty of water before starting the transplant. Then move the dug roots into the previously dug hole, in which the drainage layer has already been poured, and gently press down the top layer of soil. After transplanting, water the tree abundantly and mulch the soil around it. The roots of the transplanted tree must be covered for the winter, and the branches and trunk must be wrapped with special material.
Pruning
It is necessary to prune the tree in the spring. The magnolia does not need to form a crown, therefore, pruning means the removal of dead, dried and unnecessary branches that interfere with the proper growth and development of the tree. Pruning should be done before preparing for wintering and after the tree begins to wake up after winter "hibernation". Slices must be immediately processed with garden pitch.
Magnolia after flowering
After the magnolia finishes its flowering, it is necessary to prune the dried inflorescences, leaves and excess twigs. Thanks to such pruning, the tree will look much neater, and the extra branches will not draw vitality from it.
In the fall, when active leaf fall begins, you need to start preparing the magnolia for wintering. Without exception, all types and varieties of magnolia need shelter for the winter. In order to insulate the roots, you need to thoroughly mulch the soil around the tree with peat, sawdust, hay or dry leaves. The tree itself should be wrapped with special care in several layers of fabric cover so as not to damage the branches and trunk of the tree.
Diseases and pests
Magnolia is rarely affected by various infections and pest attacks. Due to an excess of lime in the soil, yellow spots may appear on the leaves of the tree, this disease is called chlorosis. This disease leads to a slowdown in the growth of magnolia or to its complete death. In order to get rid of this problem, you need to introduce special chemicals that help restore balance in the soil.
The tree also suffers from an excess of fertilizers, the leaves begin to turn yellow ahead of time and dry out.To get rid of this problem, you should stop all kinds of feeding and start more abundant watering of the tree.
As for pests, mealybugs, thrips, spider mites and peach aphids can attack magnolia. Such harmful insects do not allow the plant to fully develop, the leaves dry up and fall off ahead of time. Also, such pests are carriers of various diseases. In order to rid the tree of such insects, it is necessary to carefully treat it with a solution of special agents that are designed to combat harmful insects.
In winter, rodents can attack the roots of plants. Their presence can be noticed only with the onset of spring. It is not so difficult to deal with them, it is enough to treat the soil with a special solution and pay more attention to caring for the tree.
Magnolia diseases: powdery mildew, various types of rot, botrytis and scab. To cure a tree from such diseases, it is necessary to immediately begin treatment with fungicides and be sure to follow all the rules of agricultural technology for caring for magnolia.
Types and varieties of magnolia
There are many different types and varieties of magnolia, the more popular ones will be described in more detail below.
Magnolia Siebold - a shrub that can reach a height of more than 10 meters. The leaves are wide, elliptical, about 15 centimeters long. The flowers are large enough, can be up to 10 centimeters in diameter, have a snow-white color. This species is the most cold-resistant, it can tolerate short-term frosts up to 35 degrees.
Magnolia obovate or white - a deciduous tree that can reach a height of 15 meters. The bark of this species is smooth and has a gray tint. Leaves are collected at the edge of the branches in several pieces. The flowers are pale cream or white, large. This type of magnolia has a pleasant and delicate aroma.
Magnolia officinalis - this type is analogous to white-flowered magnolia, only with larger leaves. The flowers are the same color and as large as those of the magnolia obovate. This type of magnolia is used as a medicinal plant in China.
Magnolia cucumber or pointed - this type of magnolia is very tall, the tree can grow over 30 meters. The leaves are dark green, rounded, about 20 centimeters long. The flowers are bell-shaped and yellow-green in color. This species is the most cold-resistant of all known.
If you follow all the rules for planting, growing and caring for magnolia, then it will grow into a strong and powerful tree or shrub that will delight you with long flowering, decorate the garden and give an incredibly tasty aroma.
