On 4/12/12 5:29 AM, fergie44 wrote:
Hi i'm new at gardening but extremely keen, i've recently purchased a
magnolia tree (Grown in a pot not a seedling) and would like to know the
best soil type to plant it with and where abouts i can purchase said
soil also best method of planting, any advice or help is much
appriciated. cheers

Be very careful when choosing where to plant it. Magnolias do not move
well. If this is a deciduous magnolia that blooms in the spring or late
winter and you might get frost, plant it in the shade of a northern
exposure so that sunlight will not promote flowering before the end of
frosts. Evergreen magnolias, however, tend to flower in the summer and
can thus be planted in a southern exposure.

They need to be planted away from other trees and large shrubs. Nothing
should be planted within the "drip zone" (the area under the branches).
Especially avoid planting where people might walk or children play
because magnolias do not thrive where foot traffic compacts the soil.

Be sure that the top of the root ball from the container does not settle
lower than the surrounding soil. If necessary, plant slightly higher.
If this is a relatively large magnolia relative to its root ball and you
get wind, stake the plant until the roots are fully established into the
native soil (about 1-2 years).

Magnolias require soil that drains well (moist but not soggy) and that
is slightly acidic. DO NOT USE LIME AROUND A MAGNOLIA.

They appreciate fertilizers but only slow-release. I generally dig bone
meal or super-phosphate into the bottom of a planting hole for any
flowering plant but do not otherwise use fertilizer (except for annuals)
until the second growing season. This allows roots to recover and
spread before nutrients force top growth that will place a demand on the
roots.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary