Magnolias are beautiful and majestic, but they come with their fair share of challenges as well. They are vulnerable to the same pests and diseases that attack other plants in your garden, too. Magnolias are especially susceptible to attacks from disease because of their unique growing conditionsג€”they thrive in areas with rich, moist soil and need full sunlight from dawn until dusk to produce blooms. The result? An abundance of opportunities for pathogens to take up residence. Fortunately, thereג€™s plenty you can do to keep these unwelcome intruders at bay.
Keep reading to learn about common diseases that affect magnolias, how to prevent them from spreading within your garden, and what treatments you can use if they do take hold in your yard.
How do you treat a diseased magnolia tree?
If you notice a diseased magnolia tree, the first thing you should do is start it on a regimen of preventative treatment. This includes planting your magnolia in an area that has been treated with appropriate pesticides or fungicides. If possible, cover the treeג€™s roots with soil that has been treated as well. You can also add good compost to the soil and provide your tree with adequate water.
If your plant is already infected, you need to treat it immediately. In some cases, this will mean removing and disposing of parts of the plant that are affected by disease. In other cases, though, you may be able to simply remove the infected plant and replace it with a new one from healthier stock. If there are other plants nearby that could help propagate the infection away from your magnolia, consider taking them out as well.
What does a diseased magnolia look like?
A diseased magnolia will have a yellow, brown, or black discoloration on its leaves in addition to wilting and withering. The plant may also be covered with a fine webbing. In the summertime, these insects are most common on young plants that haven’t yet produced flowers.
To combat this illness, you should spray your plants with water every few days and perform a thorough inspection of the roots at least once a month to detect any insects or diseases before they get out of hand. If you find signs of an insect infestation in your garden, contact your local county extension office for assistance.
Magnolias also need plenty of fertilizer to maintain their healthy growthג€”make sure to add fertilizer twice per growing season to keep them from shriveling up and dying off. Watch for signs that the plant is low on nutrients: it will stop blossoming and dropping its leaves before it dies off completely. You can use chemical pesticides or organic methods like colloidal silver sprays to rein in these unwelcome visitors from your magnolia’s garden.
What diseases affect magnolia trees?
Common diseases that affect magnolias include the following:
-Powdery mildew
-Verticillium wilt
-Brown spot
-Anthracnose (also referred to as leaf spot)
Powdery mildew is one of the most common diseases that afflict magnolias. This disease appears as white or gray powder on the leaves, flowers, and stems. If left untreated, this will cause permanent damage to the plant. Luckily, a solution for powdery mildew is easy to find in your garden storeג€”a fungicide. Itג€™s also important to know that if you use a fungicide on a diseased plant during its first infection, you will be able to save it from getting worse. After the disease has been treated with chemicals or other methods, then you can begin taking preventative measures against it.
How can you tell if a magnolia tree is diseased?
When a magnolia tree starts to show signs of disease, itג€™s important to recognize and quarantine the plant as soon as possible. One of the easiest ways to spot a diseased tree is by closely examining its leaves. Diseased leaves tend to be dry and have spots or lesions on them. With magnolias, you will also notice that the tree looks less healthy overall because the leaves are smaller and colors are muted.
