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Magnolia - varieties, planting and proper care
Magnolia, a tree or a tall shrub native to North America and Southeast Asia, in the gardens of our country, magnolia is valued as an ornamental plant with flowers of white, yellow and pink. The cultivation of magnolia in central Russia is limited due to the harsh climate, but in fact, the opinion about the high risk of freezing of magnolias is somewhat exaggerated. The gardener, following the basic principles of care and putting a little of his attention, will receive the expected gratitude from magnolia for many years.
Content
Varieties
Magnolia includes more than 120 species of trees and shrubs, some of them deciduous, others are evergreen. Unfortunately, not all magnolias are suitable for our climate, but with confidence we can choose three frost-resistant species - star magnolia, Kobus magnolia and Sulange magnolia.
Star magnolia blooms in March - April, takes the form of a branchy tree up to 3 m high, flowers up to 8 cm in diameter are fragrant, on average each flower has 12 to 18 petals, color from white to pink. This species blooms after 2-3 years, has sufficient frost resistance, but the magnolia flower is delicate, with spring frosts, the petals are damaged.
Magnolia Cobus is the most frost-resistant species, which makes it popular. The tree reaches 10 m in height, acquires a conical or spherical shape as it grows. Varieties of this type of magnolia bloom before the leaves bloom - at the end of April. The most frost-resistant variety of this species is considered to be Borealis native to northern Japan.
Magnolia Sulange is one of the most beautiful magnolias and is presented in a large number of varieties. Among the magnolias of this species, there are shrubs and trees, shrubs reach 4 m in height, trees up to 10 m. Sulange magnolias are distinguished by large flowers up to 15 cm in diameter, bloom very lushly, completely covering the tree with flowers in late April or early May. Sulange tolerates the cold winters not as well as the magnolia Kobus, the plant freezing manifests itself as a rare flowering. Note the most popular varieties of Sulange magnolia:
- Alba Superba - blooms in white
- Alexandrina - takes the form of a bush several meters high, blooms with pink flowers
- Speciosa - very beautiful light pink flowers, almost white
Other species to grow in our gardens are Magnolia Liliacetata and Hybrid Magnolia Susan. Magnolia Liliecvetna is a shrub up to 3 m in height with purple flowers. The view has an average resistance to frost.
Magnolia Susan is 4 m high in last place in frost resistance, does not tolerate cold winds.
The species richness of magnolias is very diverse, but the health and flowering of these exceptional trees depends on the proper growing conditions.
Magnolia Planting
The deadline for planting deciduous magnolias is August, it is better to plant seedlings in May when there are no frosts, and there is time for rooting before the fall. The place for planting magnolias is selected open to sunlight, protected from the wind.
The soil should be permeable and slightly acidic (pH 5 - 6), fertilized with humus. Magnolia does not like strong competition, for example, we exclude nearby shrubs and trees, snowdrops, anemones, violets, wild daisies and crocuses are acceptable, but the reproduction of these flowers should be limited.
We consider the planting among the lawn with care, the sun and good nutrition for the roots are available on the magnolia lawn, but there is a significant drawback - the wind, this problem can be easily solved by surrounding the lawn with a fence or tall plants.
Be careful when planting magnolia seedlings, the hole should be the size of the roots, the seedling is not cut, and moreover, branches accidentally broken during planting delay the rooting of the plant.
After planting, the soil around the plant is covered with a pine bark or peat in a layer of 30 cm to protect the roots from freezing. The root system of magnolias is very fragile, remember that further transplantation can lead to the death of the plant.
Magnolia care
As already mentioned, magnolia is not cut, not during planting, not after. Pruning magnolia will not improve flowering, but rather only worsen the condition of the tree. Magnolia blooms for about a month, pruning of dry branches damaged by frost after flowering is recommended. Magnolia does not tolerate drought; from May to August, the tree is regularly watered.
Some varieties of magnolias do not bloom until three years, the application of fertilizers will help bring the flowering period closer to 2 years, but if your seedling is grown from seed, the first flowering will come no earlier than in 10 years. For magnolias, fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are used, they are applied in March before flowering and in June. Autumn application of phosphorus and potassium will prepare magnolia for winter.
The first three years, magnolia is sensitive to severe frosts, while a small seedling is covered with fir spruce branches. From May to September, magnolia is attacked by spider mites, the leaves brighten, dry and fall off. Aphids will also attack the plant; the entire plant should be treated against the pest. Magnolia is susceptible to fungal diseases, the best prevention is proper watering - only the soil is moistened, and the leaves and branches should remain dry, fungicides are used when infected.
Blooming magnolia is the result of proper care in the first few years after planting, make no mistakes at this time.
