Magnolia Tree Care

Here in the South, we love a good magnolia. With their impressively large yet elegant white blossoms, their deeply rich, waxy green leaves and their massive trunks, magnolias are the picture of stately sophistication and charm – and they’ve become somewhat of a hallmark to states south of the Mason Dixon Line. So, if you don’t have good magnolia tree care you will be missing out on their natural beauty.

 

Mighty Magnolias

As native Florida trees, magnolias have the advantage of being tolerant of the climate. Even so, it’s important, when you’ve got magnolia trees on your property to know the dos and don’ts of magnolia tree care. After all, the better care you give it, the more beautiful it becomes and the longer it lasts in the future. These are heritage trees – trees that seem almost a part of our history through generation after generation here in the storied South – and magnolia tree care is a big part of preserving that history in ways you might never realize. 

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Magnolia Maintenance

Magnolias are nothing if not impressive. They grow between 40 to 80 feet tall, with a canopy spread of 30 to 40 feet. They also come in a variety of species, including evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous. One of the greatest difficulties in proper magnolia tree care is controlling the abundance of leaves that fall constantly from the tree, and many people remove the lower limbs of their magnolia trees to allow clearance below during mowing. However, leaving the lower limbs creates a visual barrier for fallen leaves. If you’re set on having a completely green lawn carpeted as far as the eye can see with grass, it’s important to know that magnolia trees are extremely shady, making the area around them less amenable to grass. Adding to that, the fallen leaves that accumulate below also prevent the growth of grass. But as those leaves break down, they become a natural source of nutrients for the tree.

 

Magnificence in Bloom

Magnolias are generally considered ornamental trees, but they’re more than just a pretty face. They tolerate wet, soggy soil, which makes them ideal for many areas of Northwest Florida and along the Gulf Coast. When you’re planting them, however, it’s best to add compost or leaf mold to moist, slightly acidic soil to ensure that the trees have the best chance of taking root and thriving. Continuing in your list of essentials for magnolia tree care is consistent watering, as watering the tree keeps the soil surrounding the base of the tree moist. It is especially vital that immature magnolia trees are always kept well-watered until they establish themselves and start to mature. When the flower buds begin swelling in the spring, spread slow-release fertilizer to nourish them. 

As your magnolia trees grow, routine lawn maintenance proves even more vital. Be sure, however, that lawn mowers are always directed so that debris flies away from the tree and keep trimmers at a distance to avoid damaging the bark and wood of the tree. Wounds are entry points for insects and diseases, so damaging them risks the health and life of the tree. Pruning is also important in magnolia tree care, but because pruning wounds heal slowly, keep your pruning jobs to a minimum. If the tree has damage from broken branches, prune it as soon as possible; but all other pruning should ideally happen only after the tree flowers. 

At Executive Landscaping, Inc., our decades of serving clients throughout the Gulf Coast are the reason that our reputation is one that people trust. We go above and beyond in providing a wide range of quality landscaping services and making the properties in our community true showpieces. From large-scale commercial properties to single-family residential projects, we’re enhancing the beauty of our community one project at a time. 

Call the landscaping experts at Executive Landscaping, Inc. to learn more about magnolia tree care and the services we provide today! 

 

Common Native Trees in Florida

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