How to Plant & Care For Magnolia Trees
Plant Guide

Planting Process

1. Choose where you want to plant your magnolia tree. Ample planning ahead of time is key, depending on the mature size of your kind of magnolia. Choose a place with full sun, adequate drainage and lots of space for the shallow root system.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide and the same depth as the container your tree arrived in. Using the native soil, create an even mix of compost or other organic matter for drainage, and native soil. Add any starter fertilizers such as Biotone Starter Plus.
3. If you are going to stake your young tree, is it recommended to set up your stakes now, on opposite sides of the hole. Make sure they are far enough into the ground to provide stability, and that you have enough cord to connect your stakes to the young tree. This way you don't damage the delicate roots after planting.
4. Gently remove your magnolia from its container, and gently loosen the soil around the roots. Then, position your tree in such a way that the top of the soil it arrived in is about an 1/8 of an inch above ground level.
5. Backfill around the rootball with your soil mixture, and pat down firmly. Don't compress the soil too much. As the hole is filled, the tree should settle and the soil it arrived in will meet ground level.
6. If you are using stakes, secure your young magnolia tree to the stakes. Protect the young trunk from the cords by wrapping the cords in an old piece of hose or other protective material.
7. Cover the area with a 2 to 3 inch layer of organic mulch, such as cedar or hardwood. Keep a 1 inch to 2 inch area around the trunk free of any mulch to prevent disease and allow for growth. Mulch to just past the dripline - you can mound the mulch up around the dripline, creating a donut that will help retain water.
8. Give your new tree a long, deep watering. Do not rush this process, as deep waterings will help encourage deep root growth. With a regular garden hose, count to 5 for each gallon size your tree arrived in - i.e. 5 seconds for a 1 gallon nursery pot, 15 seconds for a 3 gallon pot, or 25 seconds for a 5 gallon pot. Water in this manner a few times per week for the first few weeks, then once or twice a week for the next few months depending on the weather.

Extra Tips:

When you receive your Magnolia Tree from Garden Goods Direct, it is possible it has gone through a bit of shock during shipment from being in a dark box - trees don't usually enjoy travelling. This is perfectly natural, and it should recover once in the ground. Symptoms of shipping shock in a tree include mild wilting or mild leaf drop. If this persists after a day or two, take photos and email our customer service team so they can help assess the situation.

When the box arrives, unbox your tree as soon as possible and place it in a shady area outside. You can wait a day to plant so the tree has time to settle somewhat after shipping. If you cannot plant within a day of arrival, make sure to keep your tree hydrated and in enough sunlight. With adequate care and watering you can extend the time between arrival and planting somewhat, but we don't recommend waiting for long.

Deciduous Magnolias are best planted in early spring or early fall, when the weather has cooled and they have time to establish themselves. Evergreen magnolias are best planted in the spring but they can be planted in the fall, as long as there is at least 6 to 8 weeks before the first frost. They need time to become established before their roots can handle the cold.

Types of Magnolia Trees