How to plant a magnolia tree? Latest planting techniques and method tutorial
Magnolia is also known as white magnolia, Yutangchun, and wood flower tree. It is a deciduous tree of the genus Magnolia in the family Magnoliaceae, native to Anhui, Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou, Guangdong, Shanxi and other regions, and is also widely cultivated in Beijing and areas to the south. The magnolia flowers are pure white, large and fragrant, and it is an important early-spring flowering tree species in gardens, deeply loved by people. Planted together with crabapple, winter jasmine, peony and osmanthus, it carries the meaning of good fortune and prosperity, and has the laudatory title of “Yutang spring wealth and honor”. The cultivation and management techniques for magnolia are introduced below for reference only.
Common ornamental tree species in the same genus
The genus Magnolia in the family Magnoliaceae has about 90 species, of which about 30 are found in China. Common species and cultivated varieties in gardens include: yellow magnolia, purple magnolia, Yulan magnolia, Saucer magnolia, purple-flowered magnolia, and so on.
Selection of planting environment
Magnolia likes light. Young trees are relatively shade-tolerant, but not tolerant of strong light or west-facing sun exposure; too-strong light or west-facing sun exposure can easily scorch the trees. Magnolia can be planted in an environment with lateral shading. When planted under large trees or in shady spots, it grows poorly, with a thin and small tree form, sparse branches, small and yellowing leaves, and no flowers or small flowers. Magnolia is relatively cold-tolerant and can withstand a brief low temperature of -20°C, but it should not be planted in windy gaps, otherwise shoot dieback is likely to occur. In the Beijing area, in a wind-sheltered, sunny spot, it can overwinter safely in the open ground without measures such as wrapping the trunk. Magnolia prefers fertile, moist, well-drained slightly acidic soil, but can also grow normally in mildly saline-alkaline soil (pH value 8.2, salt content 0.2%). Magnolia has fleshy roots and fears waterlogging, so the planting site should be elevated; planting in low-lying areas can easily cause root rot and lead to death. The soil at the magnolia planting site should also have good permeability; planting in clay soil leads to poor growth, while it grows best in sandy loam and yellow sandy soil.
Digging up and planting of seedlings
Magnolia is not tolerant of transplanting. Generally, transplanting is ideal 10 to 15 days before bud break, or when the flowers have just faded but the leaves have not yet unfolded. Water the seedlings thoroughly once 4 to 5 days before lifting the seedlings. This not only allows the plants to absorb sufficient water, which helps them survive after planting, but also helps the soil form a ball when digging up the seedlings. When digging, damage to the root system should be minimized, and the wounds of broken roots must be smooth to facilitate wound healing. In addition, it should be noted that no matter the size of the seedling, it should be dug with a soil ball, and the diameter of the soil ball should be 8 to 10 times the ground diameter of the seedling. It must not be too small, because if it is too small it will not protect the root system. After the soil ball is dug, it should be tied well with straw rope to prevent it from breaking apart during transport.
Before planting, the tree pit should be dug. The tree pit should be large rather than small; if the tree pit is too small, it is not only troublesome to plant but also unfavorable for root growth. The subsoil at the bottom of the tree pit is best if it is matured soil. If the soil is too clayey or the pH value or salt content exceeds the standard, soil replacement or soil improvement should be carried out. The cultivation soil must have good permeability, must be sufficiently fertile, and must be able to supply the plant with enough nutrients. There must also be no impurities such as bricks, tiles or lime in the soil. When planting, the depth should be appropriate. Generally speaking, the planting depth can be slightly 2 to 3 cm higher than the original soil ball. If too deep, it is prone to smothering the buds; if too shallow, the tree roots will be exposed and the tree can easily be blown over by wind. Large-size seedlings should be supported with stakes in a timely manner; a triangular support can be used to prevent them from being blown askew by wind. After planting is completed, water immediately, water a second time after 3 days, and water a third time after 5 days. After the third watering, normal management can begin. If the planted seedling has flower buds, the flower buds should be cut off to prevent flowering and fruiting from consuming a large amount of nutrients and affecting the survival rate.
Water and fertilizer management
Magnolia is neither tolerant of waterlogging nor drought. In cultivation and maintenance, the principle that it “likes moisture and fears waterlogging” should be strictly followed. During cultivation and maintenance, many people believe that because magnolia fears waterlogging, it should be watered as little as possible. This understanding and practice are very wrong, because magnolia fearing waterlogging does not mean it likes drought. It itself prefers a moist environment, and in water management one must grasp the degree of keeping the soil neither too dry nor too wet. Through many years of cultivation practice, the author believes that during cultivation the soil should be kept moist without standing water. During maintenance, newly planted magnolia should keep the soil moist, and this is also an important measure to ensure its survival rate. For magnolia that has entered normal management, the green-up water in early spring and the antifreeze water in early winter are indispensable, and they should be watered sufficiently and thoroughly. During the growing season, water once a month; watering should stop during the rainy season, and drainage should be carried out promptly after rain to prevent root rot caused by standing water. In addition, loosening the soil to conserve moisture should be carried out in a timely manner. It should be noted that irrigation should also be carried out promptly during dry periods in the rainy season. Lack of water not only affects the plant's vegetative growth but can also cause flower buds to drop or shrink, affecting flowering the following year.
In addition, for magnolia planted in poor site conditions, especially in environments with a large hardened area and a small green area, during continuous high-temperature and drought weather, foliar spraying should be carried out in addition to watering at the roots. Attention should be paid to the degree of atomization when spraying; the higher the degree of atomization, the better the effect. The best spraying times are before 8:00 in the morning and after 6:00 in the evening; spraying cannot be done at noon when light is strong. For magnolia that has suffered waterlogging damage, it should be rescued immediately: first, drain the standing water promptly; second, shade the tree body, especially to prevent west-facing sun exposure; third, prune off some leaves and flower buds.
Magnolia likes fertilizer. In addition to applying base fertilizer at planting, it should be fertilized every year thereafter. Sufficient fertilizer can make the plant grow vigorously, with green and thick leaves, not only producing many buds but also large flowers, a long flowering period and rich fragrance. Fertilize magnolia 4 times each year, namely: apply a nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer once before flowering; this fertilization can not only improve flowering quality but also benefit spring growth. Apply a nitrogen fertilizer once after flowering; this fertilization can increase the plant's growth amount and expand the nutritional area. Apply a phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer once in July and August; this fertilization can promote flower bud differentiation and improve the lignification degree of new shoots. Before winter, in conjunction with watering winter water, apply a once-fermented decomposed barnyard manure; this fertilization can not only improve soil activity but also effectively raise soil temperature, and the application amount should be large rather than small. In addition, for seedlings planted in the current year, if their growth is poor, a 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution can be used for foliar spraying, which can effectively enhance tree vigor.