Garden Care Guide

Southern Magnolia Care

Magnolia grandiflora

A magnificent evergreen tree with large, glossy leaves and big, fragrant white flowers. It prefers sunny or partially shaded areas and well-drained, rich, slightly acidic soils. It is sensitive to calcareous soils.

Half-hardy · -12 °C / 10 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Watering: Not required; winter moisture is sufficient.
  • Pruning: Remove only broken branches or those that pose a hazard. This is not the right time for the main pruning.
  • Plant protection: Dormant oil (mineral oil) can be applied against overwintering scale insects.
  • General care: Check the mulch in the root zone.
  • Pests & diseases: Check for the presence of scale insects (Coccoidea) on the trunk and branches.
  • Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -12 °C.
February
  • Plant protection: Repeat the dormant oil application if needed.
  • General care: Preparation can be made for planting new seedlings.
  • Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -12 °C.
March
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer or well-rotted organic fertilizer once when it wakes from dormancy. It loves acidic soil; if interveinal yellowing (chlorosis) appears on the leaves in limy soil, prefer an acidic fertilizer.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: If yellowing (chlorosis) begins on the leaves, apply iron chelate.
  • Frost risk: Late frosts can damage young shoots.
April
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days. Water newly planted plants more often than established plants during the first year; the root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: Not needed. The March work is sufficient.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for aphids (green or black clusters of small insects) on fresh shoot tips. If there are only a few, you can knock them off with a strong jet of water.
May
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Fertilizing: If yellowing of the leaves continues, apply an iron-containing foliar fertilizer or iron chelate to the soil.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Spread a 5-7 cm layer of mulch over the root zone; it retains soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not pile mulch against the trunk.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves. Check the fresh shoot tips for aphids (small clusters of green or black insects). If there are few, you can knock them off with a strong spray of water.
June
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering begins.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves. Check the fresh shoot tips for aphids (small clusters of green or black insects). If there are few, you can knock them off with a strong spray of water.
July
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
  • Pruning: After the main flowering ends, you can do light shaping or remove dead branches.
  • Plant protection: In hot weather, check the undersides of the leaves for spider mites (Tetranychidae).
  • General care: Flowering continues.
August
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
  • Pruning: This is the last chance for pruning. Pruning later causes new shoots to enter winter weakly.
  • General care: Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: Check whether there are signs of stress from dry soil (drying of leaf edges).
September
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves.
October
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days. Water newly planted plants more often than established plants during the first year; the root system is still shallow.
  • Pruning: Prune as soon as flowering ends. Next year's flower buds form over the summer; late pruning reduces flowering. Prune minimally; only remove dead, broken, or crossing branches. Heavy pruning invites diseases. On young trees, low branches should not be cut close to the trunk.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Frost risk: At the end of the month, night temperatures drop.
November
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting. Collect fallen leaves; many disease agents and pests overwinter under them.
  • Frost risk: The root collar of young saplings must be protected from frost.
December
  • Plant protection: Preparations for dormant oil application can be made if needed.
  • General care: The tree is in dormancy.
  • Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -12 °C.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

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