Magnolia grandifllora q

[nepia]

A client has a decent specimen of this tree - ~14"dbh. Over the last few weeks it's shed a huge number of yellowed leaves and looks pretty thin.

I'm inclined to think there's nothing wrong and the tree's just replacing leaves, though the owner claims that usually happens in March/April and not in such quantity.

Encouragingly there is no epicormic growth, no apparent bark problem and the young shoots in the developing inner crown seem to be in fine fettle. The tree is subject to a staged reduction; this spring was my third go at it. I can't see that the work will have affected it; it's a species known for taking a hard cut.

The apparent good health of the young growth also rules out chlorosis caused by alkaline soil (Oxted, Surrey on chalk).

 

 

Thoughts?

 

Thanks,

 

Jon

[Goaty]

They are from warmer climes. I planted some a few years ago and they shed yellow leaves. Only really happy during warm summer days I think

[se7enthdevil]

if it comes down jon, i'll be very interested.

[nepia]

If it comes down Steve you'll see me running away from a very irate Austrian lady! But should the worst happen I'll definitely bear you in mind - I am aware of your penchant for Magnolia.

 

Jon

[nepia]

Thanks Goaty: yeah, I can them struggling in E/Yorkshire. This one's against the south-east corner of a house in Surrey with a sheltered garden. I think there's likely to be nothing wrong with it but I'll pop back in a month a take a look.

[se7enthdevil]

that lot i got from you has now been split in half and the colouring from leaving it outside in the rain looks really nice.

 

i'll have to turn a bowl and get a snap.

[treeseer]

Whether it is fungus or algae these conditions are improved by improving air movement

 

If the tree is up against the corner of the house then air movement may be seriously lacking so any thinning done or anything to improve light and air movement would help the condition

As well as sanitation removing the fallen leaves

[nepia]

Looking good then: Madam has been clearing the leaves assiduously and the air/light situation will only improve as the thinning and reduction continue.

If the tree is sick - and I'm not convinced it is - I wonder if the roots have hit chalk and hence found that essentially now have nowhere to go.

 

Thanks.

[treeseer]

... I wonder if the roots have hit chalk and hence found that essentially now have nowhere to go.

 

Thanks.

 

An iron bar is a good tool for fracturing hardpan.

[nepia]

An iron bar is a good tool for fracturing hardpan.

 

In this case the hardpan is chalk a mile or more thick!