A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Protecting a Magnolia

We have a young Magnolia tree that we started from seed over 12 years ago. It's now a good 10 feet tall. For most of its years it's been very healthy and bloomed about after its third year.

Two years ago, our neighbor's very old Magnolia began to die. The leaves it produced were very small and dry looking and they then fell off. This magnolia is only a few feet from ours across the fence. Ever since our neighbor's tree died ours has been looking worse each season.

This spring we have leaves and buds, but the leaves are sparse and small- and they are not that pretty waxy green color (they usually are).

There seems to be no sign of bugs or disease on the leaves- they are just stunted.
Could whatever killed our neighbor's tree be creeping over the fence!

Any suggestions would be most appreciated on how to save our tree!

Thanks.

Sandy

it could be a harmful nematode or some other microscopic soil dweller.

Hi,

Eeew, that sounds bad... It's got bugs or grubs or something gross in the soil?
What should I do??

I've also noticed that the holly tree we have that's near it is showing some of the same symptoms.

Thanks for the advice and any help you can offer!

All the best.

Sandy