Southern Magnolia Tree

Question: Hello. My two sons gave me a magnolia tree for Mothers Day 4 years ago. It is now about 20 feet tall. It has not turned green yet and looks all brown. Only about 5 leaves remain and they are brown. The tree looks dead. I hoping it is not. What can I do?

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 27, 2023, 1:28 PM EDT
response: Thank you for your question.  Many broadleaf evergreens were subject to damage due to our fluctuating temperatures/freezes we have had and just need time.  A good way to tell if your tree is still alive is to scrape a bit of bark and look for green underneath, which will be an indicator of a sign of life.

responder: The Question Asker Replied April 28, 2023, 4:34 PM EDT
response: hello thank you for your response. My husband did a scape and found no green. Is that 100 % sure it’s dead. So if it is dead, should I not put another magnolia in the same place? Thank you. Sent from my iPhone On Apr 27, 2023, at 12:28 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>>you  wrote:﻿

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 28, 2023, 4:50 PM EDT
response: Yes, unfortunately the Magnolia tree is dead. However, I noticed that there is a smaller magnolia growing next to the dead one. I think your best bet is to start over with that one in a different place. In addition, there are a couple best management practices that could be improved based on the image you have sent.  Southern magnolias can be planted in sun or shade and prefer moist, well-drained, acidic soils. It's a good idea to plant Southern magnolias within defined landscape beds rather than a lawn, since the trees shed leaves and seedpods each spring and also produce surface roots over time. Make sure you know how large the tree will be when it is mature and select a site that will provide it ample room to grow. You can plant container-grown trees at any time of year, but plant balled-and-burlapped trees from August through October. Dig the planting hole at least two times wider than the root ball and nearly as deep as the root ball. Place the tree in the hole so that the surface of the root ball is slightly higher than the surrounding ground. Backfill the hole with soil and water thoroughly. Finally, apply 3 to 4 inches of mulch around the tree, but leave the rootball uncovered as the mulch can prevent water from reaching the rootball. If your tree drops a number of leaves during the first season, don't be alarmed—transplant shock is fairly common with Southern magnolia. Continue to give the tree regular applications of water to help it get established. After the first four to six weeks, you can fertilize with light—but frequent—applications during the first three growing seasons. Unless maintenance is a problem, leave the lower branches of the tree intact. However, you can prune lightly to remove any stray limbs or to help the tree grow into a pleasing pyramidal shape. Try to avoid over pruning your tree as this will affect the health of your tree overtime.  Also, make sure your magnolia is protected from mowers. Mowing too close to the tree can damage the bark and prevent the tree from growing healthily.   Here is a great article I found for Southern Magnolia. Growing Southern Magnolia | UGA Cooperative Extension Southern Magnolia - Gardening Solutions - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (ufl.edu)