Magnolia grandiflora

My Magnolia grandiflora doesn't look to good.
There are blotches and marks on the leaves, and some of the growing points have either died or don't look very healthy.

Any ideas why?
I have had it for 3 years and this winter it really struggled.

 

Not a plant I have personally grown, but yours does look in a bad way.
I've always shied away thinking they get really big.

Do they prefer acid soil, could it be chlorosis?
Is it getting water logged in winter?

 

Pete,
I treat the soil regularly with Aluminium Sulphate, and no, the soil isn't water logged.

 

Your not overdoing it with the AS are you?
To acidify soil I tend to use sulphur, and little bit at a time.

If a plant needs a perk up I use sequestrene or chelated iron.

 

they do like a sheltered spot plus it is a young plant

Spruce

 

No, just use as per directions.

Is there any likelyhood it will improve, or should a dig it up?
I always try a species twice before giving it up

 

I wouldn't did it up, its not dead.
I'd give it another year and see how the new growth goes this spring/summer.
If it looks similar next year then it might be worth digging it up to see if the roots have spread out of the existing root ball.

 

I would wait Sirius. I have one which has had similar symptoms after a cold, wet winter (I think it's some sort of fungus), but it tends to recover, and also yours looks like it has some healthy new growth at the bottom. You could try cutting the obviously dead bits back to a healthy leaf. Mine was a cutting taken from my BIL's beautiful tree, but it's never really thrived due to our alkaline soil.

 

I had it in a pot for the first year i had it.
Maybe that caused some sort of problem with the roots??

Lorea - that really good looking bit at the base is actually a small Camelia which is in front of the Magnolia

Well that seems to be doing well, although there were no buds this year, it it still quite small.

 

Oops! So it is! (the photo's the right way round now).

 

I'm sure that with warmer weather, and regular watering through the summer, the magnolia will improve. The yellowing leaves suggest that it didn't enjoy the prolonged winter very much!
Once frosts have finished, as suggested previously, you could cut back some of the most spindly twigs to encourage new, healthy growth. There's nothing to lose, as it won't flower until it's a bit bigger.

 

Lorea - Yup, managed to get it the right way up.

noisette - I think I will see if it improves this summer,if not, I will replace it next spring.

 

I would also do the same - Aluminum Sulphate only lowers the pH, it does not add any minerals. Magnolia Grandifolia need iron. I think it would perk up after a good few feeds of iron.

 

Salamander,

I will source some on the weekend and give it a go.

 

I have some Iron Sulphate in my shed.
Is that ok?