Magnolia

I planted Magnolia at entirely the wrong point in the growing calendar and spent the first few months wondering what I'd done wrong. honey fungus affecting roots especially on stressed trees didn't help matters. Once I understood keeping a mulch-free collar immediately around the trunk things improv…

I nearly gave up on Magnolia after three months of mediocre results. Then I focused properly on staking correctly with a low stake to allow the trunk to flex and strengthen and within a few weeks the difference was dramatic. It now lives in a small garden with a compact or columnar variety chosen f…

After growing Magnolia for over a year here is what I'd tell a beginner. First: watering deeply and regularly in the first two growing seasons is not optional — it's the foundation everything else depends on. Second: scale insects or aphids in the canopy attracting sooty mould will happen and you s…

As a complete beginner I was nervous about starting with Magnolia. It turned out to be more forgiving than I expected, as long as I paid attention to keeping a mulch-free collar immediately around the trunk. I grow mine in a wildlife garden with native species which is working really well. signific…

I'd had Magnolia for about eight months with acceptable but unremarkable results. Then I started really paying attention to keeping a mulch-free collar immediately around the trunk and the difference over the next two months was dramatic. multi-decade investment that improves year on year became mu…

I brought Magnolia home six months ago with high hopes and almost no knowledge. The first challenge was understanding keeping a mulch-free collar immediately around the trunk — something I hadn't expected to matter so much. Once I got that right, the whole thing settled down. I grow it in a small g…