When should I plant Magnolia Leonard Messel?
It is best to plant deciduous Magnolias when they are dormant, throughout autumn/winter (providing the temperatures are not below freezing), or in spring during the cooler climates. This ensures the plants have a good chance at settling down before summer.
How far apart should I plant Magnolia Leonard Messel plants?
If you purchase medium sized Magnolia plants, we recommend planting no more than 2 per metre (50cm spacing). For plants taller than 1m, a space of 100cm between is plant is usually best.
As Magnolias are wide spreading, this ensures the plants are given plenty of room to successfully grow to their full potential.
How to plant Magnolia Leonard Messel:
As Magnolia plants have shallow roots, you will not need to dig a very deep hole.
Begin by digging a hole that's a little wider than the root ball, but the same depth as the pot the plant came in (usually around 20-30cm). Then add some fresh topsoil, well-rotted compost, or leaf mould, into the excess soil.
Place the plants carefully into the hole, ensuring they're straight, and check the level they are sitting at - the base of the stem should be at or just above ground level. Backfill with soil, patting gently as you go along, to knock out any air. Follow this by watering very well.
We then recommend adding around 2-3" of mulch at the base of the plant, too. Anything like garden compost, grass cuttings, bark, or wood chippings works well.
Ensure you continually water the plant throughout the first 1-2 years after being planted (we recommend around 2-3 times per week, and more so during warmer weather). This is a very important step as the roots need plenty of water and nutrients to be able to establish and develop successfully.