Magnolia issue

Hi all,

I have an issue with a magnolia tree in my garden.

Each year the tree has flowered in later April, until this year when everything was normal but just as the flowers were about come out they all turned brown and fell off and any buds remaining simply stayed there dormant.

The tree is now in the exact state it was in in April - leafless with some old buds left on it. I've scratched the bark periodically to see if it was green underneath and it has been until my most recent check. It is now brown under the bark and I'm pretty sure it has deceased.

What could have caused this so I know for future reference, seems strange to go from flowering to death literally overnight!

Any ideas much appreciated

 

I was going to say that we had late frosts this year which could be responsible for killling the blooms, but if the tree itself is dying I'm at a loss. Hopefully someone else will be along soon.