MAgnolia problem (Replant?)

Hi Everyone,

My first post so be gentle
I have a problem here, Recently we dug out a new border because the garden needed re shaping. We have a 5ft, 5 year old magnolia (purple) that is in a large tub.
When we came to move it so we could plant it in the new position we noticed that the roots had gone through the bottom of the tub (Via the holes) and have taken hold in the soil.
I notice that they don't run very deep but are quite wide spread (at least 3 ft).
I don't really want to leave it in the pot but I also don't want to kill it off.
Any suggestions?
I would probably have to wait until Autumn to do the move now anyway but help and advice would be extremely welcome.

Thanks all

Regards

Chris

 

Hi Chris and welcome to GC.


If it is in a plastic pot then water the plant thoroughly first and then just cut it off the plant, if it is a stone one-unless it is a valuable antique you will need a hammer and a sheet to collect all the shards and then crack it off.

You can plant it anytime Chris as long as the ground isn't frozen-which it probaby won't be, and when you replant it give it a good feed.

Hope this helps

 

Thanks for the reply.

DO you think I should leave it until Autumn? I read somewhere about moving trees when they are becoming dormant?
The pot is plastic so should be easily cut off, but I am really worried about the roots which have spread all around it.
I would haveto cut through most of these to replant.
I am sure there is sufficient roots in the pot also but would be upset if it didn't make the move.
I assume I would have to dig a really deep hole and group the roots and drop them in then water thoroughly twice a day until it becomes re establiseshed?

Many thanks

Chris

 

I certainly wouldn't risk moving it until it is dormant, particularly since it looks like you are bound to lose some of the root system. Dig out and pull up as much of the existing root system as you can but don't worry if you have to cut them.
When you replant, try to get the roots as wide spread as possible and add a bit of bone meal or fish, blood and bone fertiliser to the soil as you fill in the hole. If you transplant in autumn you'll not need to water it beyond a first watering to settle the soil as it won't get thirsty until spring.

 

Different gardeners have different approaches. If you move it in Autumn then you certainly won't need to water it other then it's initial watering in-I completely agree with Dave W on this. I would definitely not feed it then-the soil is still wamr from summer the plant will take it up and put on fresh growth just in time for winter to cause frost damage.


I personally would look to plant it now, feed it and spend the summer watering it when it needs it. I have just done this exact thing today with an Acer my Mum in Law no longer wanted, it's standing looking very pretty indeed in its new spot in my garden. I will of course watch it for watering.


Either way, it's up to you really, it depends how comfortable you feel with moving it now. If you do move it bring as much of the roots as you can gather, you can do no better than that. You only need to water it once a day when the sun has gone off it, it tends to evaporate off if you doo it earlier in the day, at 5ft tall it will need plenty of watering.

 

Just had a thought and wondered what everyone else thought aboutit. To cut the extended roots now ( not up to the pot perhaps a foot away in diameter ) feed the tree now, ready to move later in Autumn. My thinking is that the plant will grow new feeder roots and be in fine fettle for a later move.

Wondering what others might think.

 

I don't think I would prune the roots now - that equivalent to transplanting it, and my preference would be in late Autumn.