Expert gardening advice to care for magnolias

One of the most beloved of all trees, magnolias delight the senses with their glossy foliage, fragrant blossoms, and majestic shape. We'll teach you the basics of how to grow and care for a magnolia of any size.

• Magnolias are a diverse group of trees, with giant species that reach heights of up to 25 metres (80 feet) and have leaves up to 60 centimetres (25 inches) long. There are also much more manageable types that grow 4.5 metres (15 feet) high.
• Large magnolias are often grown as specimens in the lawn or near the corner of a house. Smaller magnolia trees are lovely planted in groupings along the edge of a driveway or as part of a border.
• Because their large leaves block so much light and their shallow roots resent disturbance, grass and groundcovers should not be grown beneath magnolias. Besides, most species look best when the lower branches sweep the ground, where the flowers and cone-like fruits are clearly visible.

• A hardiness zone is a geographical area defined by its climate, temperature, and what plant life it can support. You should be able to easily find your hardiness zone online.
• The famed magnolia of the Southeast is the evergreen southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), which has 20-centimetre-long (eight inch) leaves and scented, waxy, 25-centimetre-wide (10 inch) white blossoms in early summer. The species is hardy to Zone 7, as is 'Little Gem,' a columnar variety reaching nine metres (30 feet) that is ideal for hedges and smaller gardens.
• The cultivars 'Edith Bogue,' 'Victoria,' and '24-Below' will survive in southern Zone 6. Even hardier is the sweet bay magnolia (M. virginiana), which will survive in Zone 6 and tolerates shade and wet soil. It's evergreen in warm climates and has round, ivory blossoms.
• The saucer magnolia (M. × soulangeana) is hardy to Zone 5 and produces large, cup-shaped flowers in white, pink, or lavender before the leaves appear in spring. It reaches 4.5 metres (15 feet) high and is equally wide. There are many lovely cultivars, including the rose-flushed 'Alexandrina,' purple-stained 'Lennei,' and rose-purple 'Burgundy.'

• Magnolias thrive in sun to partial shade and in slightly acid soil with average to good drainage.
• In Zones 6 and 7, be careful to avoid planting in low spots (called frost pockets) where cold air settles in winter and can damage flower buds in spring. Also select a protected site where winter winds can't shred the leaves.
• Trees less than 2.5 metres (eight feet) tall are easier to transplant than larger ones.
• Plant magnolias in the spring in Zones 5 and 6, and from fall to early spring in other zones. Dig a wide planting hole and settle the tree at the same depth at which it grew in its container or in the field. Fill the hole around it with soil, water thoroughly, and spread eight centimetres (three inches) of shredded bark mulch on the soil above the root zone to maintain soil moisture in hot weather.
• Should a drought strike the first summer after the tree is planted, water the tree weekly by slowly dripping water onto the root zone for an hour or longer each time you irrigate.
• Magnolias need no pruning and have no serious pest problems, but they can be damaged by winter ice storms. Prune away dead or damaged limbs in late winter and the tree will usually recover after a year or two.

Magnolias are sprawling and beautiful, and can add colour and character wherever they grow. Use these tips to choose the right variety for your area and care for the plant with love. You'll be rewarded with splendor and shade.