Another Magnolia Thread

[ThatsNotMaple]

Really interesting that I came to the Buzz tonight to post about some Magnolia problems a customer is having and I read a new thread about Magnolia problems. There are some similarities with the other thread, but enough differences that I thought I'd start my own with different pictures.

Basically, a customer called about a Magnolia they are worried is dying. Burned leaf margins, a few branches have browned out complete, and there are leaf spots. Looks like there is woodpecker activity, which leads me to believe there may be some sort of insect involved, but I don't usually deal with M. grandiflora unless it's to remove it. I'm thinking winter damage combined with something else. Anyone have any thoughts and about controls? I'm planning to take a look at the roots as I have to excavate the flare on a newly planted maple on the same property already. Mulch is way too high, and it's probably planted too deeply. According to the homeowner is has looked great until this year.

 

[JD3000]

Sapsuckers made those holes.

There's a few leaf spots afflicting maggies, fungal, bacterial, and an algea too as well. I don't recall any names offhand but some southern university websites will probably have the best resources in that regard. Many a book as well.

Alleviate abiotic stressors as a priority and the tree's defenses will eventually fight back. Fungicide may or not be warranted, depends on the site, tree size, and if the disease is particularly nasty.

Winter cold damage and dessication do a number on those here too.

 

[flyingsquirrel25]

Winter desiccation hammered our area pretty bad as well. Probably 3 out of 5 Southern mags have damage of varying degrees but salvageable. One out of 5 I look at is crisp. And it’s pretty much across all our broadleaf evergreen except rhodos. Surprisingly we haven’t seen a lot of breakage due to the heavy wet snow loads from late this year.