Detailed Explanation of Magnolia Tree Planting Techniques and Key Maintenance Points

Magnolia, also known as white magnolia, Yutangchun, or wood flower tree, 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. Its flowers are pure white, large and fragrant, making it an important early-spring flowering tree species in gardens, deeply loved by people. When planted together with crabapple, winter jasmine, tree peony and osmanthus, it carries the meaning of good fortune and prosperity, and has the laudatory name of "Yutangchun Fugui" (Jade Hall Spring Wealth and Honor). The cultivation and management techniques of 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, with about 30 in China. Common species and cultivars in gardens include: yellow magnolia, purple magnolia, Wangchun magnolia, Erqiao magnolia, purple-flowered magnolia, and so on.

Selection of planting environment

Magnolia prefers light; young trees are relatively shade-tolerant but not tolerant of strong light or west-facing sun exposure. Excessive light or west-facing sun can easily cause sunscald damage to the trees. Magnolia can be planted in environments with lateral shading; planting under large trees or in shaded areas results in poor growth, with a thin and small tree form, sparse branches, small and yellowing leaves, and no flowers or small flowers. Magnolia is relatively cold-hardy and can withstand brief low temperatures of -20°C, but should not be planted in wind tunnel areas, otherwise shoot shriveling is likely to occur. In the Beijing area, it can safely overwinter in the open ground in a wind-sheltered, sun-facing location without measures such as trunk wrapping. Magnolia prefers fertile, moist, well-drained slightly acidic soil, but can also grow normally in mildly saline-alkaline soil (pH 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 easily causes root rot and death. The soil at the planting site should also have good permeability; planting in clay soil leads to poor growth, while growth is best in sandy loam and yellow sandy soil.

Digging up and planting of nursery stock

Magnolia is not tolerant of transplanting. Generally, transplanting 10 to 15 days before bud break or when flowers have just faded but leaves have not yet unfolded is ideal. Four to five days before digging up the seedlings, water them thoroughly once. This not only allows the plants to absorb sufficient water, which helps survival after planting, but also helps the soil form a ball when digging. When digging, damage to the root system should be minimized, and the wounds of broken roots must be smooth to facilitate healing. In addition, it should be noted that regardless of the size of the nursery stock, 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 nursery stock. It should not be too small, as too small a ball 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 in advance. The tree pit should be large rather than small; if the pit is too small, it is not only troublesome to plant but also unfavorable for root growth. The subsoil at the bottom of the 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 and sufficient fertility, able to supply the plant with adequate nutrients, and the soil must not contain debris such as bricks, tiles or lime. The planting depth should be appropriate. Generally, the planting depth can be slightly 2 to 3 cm above the original soil ball; too deep and it is prone to bud suffocation, too shallow and the roots will be exposed and the tree easily blown over by wind. Large-sized seedlings should have supports set up promptly; triangular supports 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 a third time after 5 days; after the third watering, normal management can begin. If the planted nursery stock carries flower buds, the buds should be cut off to prevent flowering and fruiting from consuming large amounts 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 of "preferring moisture but fearing 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 is completely wrong, because magnolia fearing waterlogging does not mean it prefers drought; it itself likes a moist environment. 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, which 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 preserve moisture should also be carried out promptly. It should be noted that irrigation should also be carried out promptly during dry periods within 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 large paved areas and small green space, 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 during spraying; the higher the degree of atomization, the better the effect. The best times for spraying 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 suffering from waterlogging damage, rescue measures should be taken immediately: first, drain the standing water promptly; second, shade the tree body, especially to prevent west-facing sun exposure; third, cut off some leaves and flower buds.

Magnolia prefers fertilizer. In addition to applying base fertilizer at planting, fertilizer should be applied every year thereafter. Sufficient fertilizer can make the plant grow vigorously, with lush green and thick leaves, not only producing many buds but also large flowers, a long flowering period and rich fragrance. Fertilizing magnolia is done 4 times a year: apply a nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer once before flowering; this fertilization not only improves flowering quality but also benefits 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 increase the degree of lignification of new shoots. Before winter, in conjunction with watering winter water, apply once more a fully decomposed and fermented barnyard manure; this fertilization not only improves soil activity but also effectively raises soil temperature, and the amount applied should be large rather than small. In addition, for seedlings planted in the current year, if growth is poor, a 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution can be used for foliar spraying, which can effectively enhance tree vigor.