Magnolia

I have a magnolia in a metre wide pot. The tree is now a metre an half tall and I am concerned it may not prosper.
It is ready to flower this year, but would it be better in the garden? The plot available faces NW, the soil is predominately clay over limestone.
I welcome any advice?
Thankyou.

 

Hi and welcome!

I think the real problem is going to be your soil. Magnolias prefer a deep humus rich slightly acid to neutral soil with good drainage. Clay over limestone may be too much for it to cope with. NW with part shade should be OK as they like dappled shade.

If you do plant it excavate a hole 3x the dia and 2x as deep as the rootball and backfill with loads of humus rich compost mixed with some gritty material. Use the removed material elsewhere.

Magnolias are slow growing so stake it well after planting and give it a couple of years to establish itself, deep watering weekly during dry periods with pehaps a half stenght feed once a month. Over feeding will discourage root growth.

[ 20. January 2006, 09:35 AM: Message edited by: frogesque ]

 

ericaceous compost will also help