Magnolias need your attention right now. April decides what they will look like next year – it depends on watering, mulching and proper fertilizing. See what you should do right now.
Spring is in full swing and the gardens are now blooming and shining with all colors. And right now is also the time for a good dose of magnolia care. they are without a doubt one of the most beautiful spring trees, but at the same time they are also more sensitive and slightly more demanding to care for. April is the key period when you can influence their flowering and overall vitality. So what care do magnolias need this month? Gardener Ludmila Svobodová from Prague shared this with iReceptář.
Caring for magnolias in April
“April is a key period for magnolias, as in this month they either bloom or after flowering begin to grow very intensively. And this is the phase when they consume a considerable amount of nutrients and energy. Under ideal conditions and with proper care, they will produce strong shoots and abundant buds for next year. But if the plant is stressed, it will affect the flowering in other seasons as well, which means that in April you need to be really careful with magnolias.” says Ludmila.
“A step that a lot of people forget at this time is . If you put a layer of bark, compost or leaves around the trunk, you’ll protect the root system, which is shallow with magnolias because their roots are just below the surface. Due to the shallow root system, magnolias are more susceptible to drying out or mechanical damage. At the same time, mulch will help maintain moisture better and improve the quality of the soilwhich is exactly what the plant needs now.”
“The basis of magnolia care in April is proper watering. In the spring months, the weather can be changeable, but if you know that a drier period awaits you, you need to be really careful about watering. The soil for magnolias should always be slightly moist, but never soggy or dry. Waterlogged soil means root rot, and dry soil can cause poor leaf development and flower drop. It is therefore ideal to water them more often in adequate doses.” stated Ludmila for iReceptář.
Fertilizing and cutting
“As far as fertilization is concerned, it is also necessary to handle it carefully. You can fertilize magnolias in the spring, ideally with fertilizer for ornamental trees or acid-loving plants. However, be careful and avoid too much nitrogen, as it promotes leaf growth at the expense of flowers. And as for the cut, you can postpone it. Magnolias are known to tolerate it poorly, which means that it is usually done only after flowering and only when it is really necessary. A heavier cut can weaken the magnolia and thus also worsen the flowering in the following years. It is best to let the plant grow naturally in April.” stated Ludmila for iReceptář.
