What is happening to my magnolia tree?

I'm hoping that's it. I've got some new sod and runners near the base of the tree that I've been watering a good bit. I didn't think I was watering it that much but I'll back off for now and see what happens. Thanks

I'll try that, thanks for the suggestion

The ones around here are doing the samething, some are losing more leaves than others. I was told by a tree guy that it was because they have been taking a beating with the drought and then last year with the hurricane and snow. All mine are blooming and have new shoots on the end of the branches but look bare. I have a heavy clay yard which magnolias do not like. So I took a soil sample to SiteOne and I’m waiting on the results to see what we can do to help them out. I know they like an acidic soil so CatfishJohn is on the right track with the Hollytone fertilizer.

I'm no tree expert, but the general rule of thumb for plants is: if the furtherest out leaves are yellowing = lack of water. If the the near ones are yellowing, too much water.


I guess if they're spread evenly, you'll need more expertise.

I emailed the pics to the local extension office. I'll update when/if he replies.

I'm going to pick up some Hollytone today

With an established magnolia it's really hard to over fertilize with hollytone. It's slow release and organic. I have 6 established magnolias and use three bags per tree twice a year. So 36 bags They respond really well to it after brutal Tennessee winters with our hard freezes which turns into boggy soil after the melt and early Spring/late winter rains.

It can hurt the grass along the drip line a bit, but I don't have much because of the trees themselves.

I had 3 magnolia trees in my yard die last summer from the drought. After that, I started noticing the amount of dead magnolias around Baton Rouge.

Best of luck to you.