Magnolia Stellata - care query

Good guy · Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 9:07 pm Post subject: Magnolia Stellata - care query

This magnolia Stellata has been growing here for quite a few years, probably at least ten. The photograph was taken earlier this spring. I'm not happy with the sparseness of flowering and I don't like the cluttered habit of growth. Up to now I've been loth to prune, other than to remove branches growing obviously in the wrong direction as it was an expensive buy and I didn't want to spoil it. I've seen pictures of the same plant with prolific flowers and a better, less cluttered form.

I would appreciate the advice of others who may have grown the same plant, as to pruning and other appropriate care. My usual approach is to remove weak and crossing branches first and then go for structure. What else might I do? (I have removed some of the competition from immediately around the shrub.)

kindredspirit · Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 9:34 pm Post subject:

Soil? What's the ph?

They prefer 7 going downwards. To compensate: loads of manure and iron.

Good guy · Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 8:25 am Post subject:

It's acid but I forget by how much as its years since I measured it. I'll get a soil test kit today.
Should I vary my suggested pruning regime?

tippben · Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 10:36 am Post subject:

I'd suggest feeding it really well, both the roots, and as foliar feed for the rest of the year before pruning. A top dressing of ericaceous will help as well.

kindredspirit · Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 1:01 pm Post subject:

I've 2 Magnolias. Goldstar and Grandiflora.

The Goldstar was given to me by my daughter when it was 12" high, in 2010 I think. The only position I had for it was in a place with no topsoil, only subsoil so I made up my own topsoil of 33% sand, 33% very, very old horse manure & 33% clayey sub-soil. The tree is now 15 feet high! in home made soil.

I was given the Grandiflora by a friend who had it in a pot and she had nowhere to plant it in her "garden", which is 100% concrete. I planted it in my ordinary garden soil, which is "Limestone Till". Result: not a move on it. Leaves are yellowy and no growth. I'd put a half bag of Ferrous Sulphate (or somesuch) around it together with shrub slow release fertilizer.

Moral of the story. Home-made topsoil is better than the indigenous rubbish around here. Smile

So, maybe, for your tree, put a 2' wide, 1' high, ring of manure around it. Worth a try anyway. or else, dig it up, widen the hole considerably and amend the soil with slow release fertilizer, manure and irony stuff and re-plant. (I'm always moving/adjusting plants if they're not happy. You can just see they're not happy by looking at them.)

Good guy · Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 12:49 pm Post subject:

So the soil ph turned out to be bang on 7, which surprised me - just goes to show you shouldn't take these things for granted! I suppose, over the years, it will have changed through cultivation. Its time to test other areas of the garden, I think.
I've applied cheated iron, encircled the plant with well rotted horse manure and given it a foliar feed of nettle tea. Hopefully, that will cure its sulks. I'm off for the rest of the day to the North West Garden Show at Castlefin. If I see some there, I'll get a bag of ericaceous compost to add as a top dressing.
Thanks for all the advice, lads.

Good guy · Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 9:09 pm Post subject: Magnolia Stellata care

Here is a current photo of the plant I complained about a year ago. What a difference!
Thanks for the advice lads.

Ado 2 · Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 9:41 pm Post subject:

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Ado 2 · Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 9:50 pm Post subject:

What I mean is this site is great ! !

Good guy · Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 9:54 pm Post subject:

Absolutely!

tagwex · Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 9:55 pm Post subject:

Chicago???

kindredspirit · Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 2:10 am Post subject:

Good to see you back, Guy.

Good guy · Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 10:14 am Post subject:

Thanks, KS. It's good to get active again - I missed the crack.