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carbos5

Magnolia Tree Looking Sick

carbos
10 years ago

I'm in the Fort Lauderdale, FL area. About one year ago I planted a Teddy Bear magnolia. It was about 3 feel tall, maybe a little less. It seemed to be doing fine until a few months ago when I noticed many of the leaves starting to looking burned, or having some sort of fungus.
During the summer I fed it with some all purpose tree and shrub fertilizer. Haven't fed the tree in months, however.
Can someone take a look at the photos and offer their opinion and any advice? Much appreciated. Thank you!

Comments (9)

  • jean001a
    10 years ago

    That's sunburn. perhaps rig temporary shade while it's establishing a sturdy root system.

  • carbos
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Sunburn? I'm surprised to read that. I was told to plant the tree in full sunlight.

  • Embothrium
    10 years ago

    Here, at this time of the year it would be cold damage.

  • ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
    10 years ago

    the recent transplant offsets any claims of a plants ability to survive in full sun ... perhaps it could have been avoided with deep proper watering all winter ...

    it looks exactly like my evergreen rhodies ... after a MI winter ... and most of the affected leaves fall off soon enough ... no evergreen holds it leaves forever ...

    i never feed my trees and shrubs ... perhaps a call to your county extension office ... will get you some general information about your FL soil ... and the need to do so.. but do understand.. they are not children.. that need a lot of food ...

    it may also be a planting issue ... if you planted it with a big gob of potting media.. in what i think of FL soil.. as basically sand ... hard to tell on that ...

    see link for general planting and watering care.. perhaps including fert .... though it isnt specific to FL .. the key is to water it.. when it needs it.. and to learn how to find out when it does ...

    ken

    Here is a link that might be useful: link

  • poaky1
    10 years ago

    Looks better than my evergreen Magnolia, mine has all brown leaves, but the buds are good on mine, I'll get all new leaves, you will likely get new leaves and a lot of new growth, enough to make you not even notice if those leaves stay like they are now anyway.

  • jean001a
    10 years ago

    A woody plant needs at least 2 years of supplemental irrigation to develop a sturdy root system.

    In the meantime, roots may not be able to maintain an adequately moisture level in the leaves, particularly on especially bright sunny days.

  • carbos
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Sounds like I need to increase watering. I'll give that a try and see if there is any improvement. Thank you.

  • ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
    10 years ago

    increase watering. I'll give that a try and see if there is any improvement.

    ==>>> i dont know what you expect to see .. those leaves will never improve.. the only improvement.. will be when they fall off ..

    i gave you a link above.. study it in regard to watering... this isnt a shoot it with the pistol grip hose end sprayer thing ... deep watering.. thru the root mass planted .. etc .. and its not a schedule thing.. insert finger.. and find out how moist the soil is ... this is very important.. when the heat of summer hits .. and in winter.. for you ...

    good luck.. and you are welcome ...

    ken

  • Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
    10 years ago

    You don't say what conditions the magnolia was in while at the nursery. It could have been shaded -- maybe for a whole year. Or you planted it in an orientation other than what it was used to.

    You have intense sun down there. But likely the new leaves it puts out should be able to handle the exposure, provided it has enough water.

    I saw a great video that explained even a transplanted Saguaro cactus needs to be oriented to the sun the same way it was prior to being dug up. Otherwise they'll sun burn.