They’re best planted in the early spring.
It prefers an acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.
In times of warmer weather (above 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit), it may need additional watering.
These trees usually grow smaller in cooler climates, with a more shrubby size and shape.
Fertilizer
Before fertilizing a sweetbay magnolia, perform a soil test.
You should only fertilize if you have a soil deficiency.
It’s best to use organic slow-release fertilizer, like mulch.
These are some favorites:
double-check to verify hardiness ratings before purchasing your sweetbay magnolia.
Some are only hardy to zone 6.
Older trees are drastically more sensitive to pruning than young trees.
Sweetbay magnolias are best pruned immediately after their flowering period has concluded.
Propagating Sweetbay Magnolia
Sweetbay magnolia is relatively easy to propagate from softwood cuttings.
Let the pods fully dry, then break them apart and collect the small red seeds inside.
The seeds should then be scarified by scrubbing them with a damp paper towel to remove the red coating.
Then lightly scuff the seeds with fine sandpaper.
Store the seeds over winter at a temperature of 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Storing them in the refrigerator, packed with some moist peat moss, works fine.
Keep the sprouting seedlings moist as they are developing.
Young plants should be sheltered from direct sun for their first year.
Repotting should not be necessary for several years, until the root ball completely fills the container.
More regular feeding is required for container-grown magnolias, as nutrients are quickly leached out from frequent watering.
Fungal diseases on mature trees usually aren’t serious, though they can be treated with copper-based fungicides.
Be more diligent about treating fungal disease on young plants as they are becoming established.
Pests can be controlled to some degree by usingneem oilor another horticultural oil.
And if they are planted in soil that is too alkaline, your magnolia may withhold blossoms.
These are acid-loving plants that need a low pH to make it properly absorb nutrients.
Yellowing leaves, called chlorosis, occurs because the plant is unable to absorb the nutrients it needs.
The tree generally recovers easily from this damage.
It’s fondness for boggy conditions makes this a good tree for problem low-lying areas of the landscape.
Star magnolia (Magnolia kobus var.
stellata) is reliably hardy in zone 4, and often survives even into zone 3.
The ‘Little Girl’ series of hybrids are hardy even into zone 3.
‘Lillipution’ is a cultivar of saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana)that grows only 12 feet tall.
It is hardy in zones 5 to 9.
‘Genie’ is a 13-ft.-tall hybrid cultivar with dark pink flowers.
‘Jane Platt’ is a 15-foot cultivar of star magnolia (Magnolia stellata).
