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About Tom Alonzo
Expertise
I have been a gardener for 20 years with perennials both growing from seed and from nurseries. I went through the Master Gardener Program from Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service and I answered questions on the Hotline a few years ago for the Wyandotte County Kansas Extension Service. I have also lived in the Florida, California, Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, Kansas and Missouri and am experienced with a variety of climates, soils and weather conditions.
Experience
I have been growing perennials for over 20 years now. I am self-taught mostly except for a master gardener class. I have experimented with all kinds of perennials including many that are not common to my area. I have read hundreds of books and grown hundreds of varieties of plants and hope to make it a business some day. I have become versed in botanical names and growing conditions and what I don't know off of the top of my head I can usually easily find in my vast array of research material and botanical and horticultural contacts. I especially enjoy experimenting with growing plants out of zone.
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You are here: Experts > Home/Garden > Roses > Perennials > magnolia bush
Expert: Tom Alonzo - 10/23/2009
Question
QUESTION: I planted the bush on the east side of the house 2 years ago. It starts new growth and then begins to die. Where should it be planted.
Thank you in advance,
Mary Ann Kelley
ANSWER: Hi Mary Ann,
Can you tell me your general location?
thx,
Tom
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Torrance, California 1/2 mile from the beach, very dewy in the morning and mostly mild humidity on most days. Morning sun on bush
ANSWER: Hi Mary Ann,
Thanx for the additional information. If this is a deciduous magnolia, one that loses its leaves every fall, it will benefit from some afternoon shade. Otherwise, make sure it is watered once a week, deeply. Side dress with composted cow manure in the spring. Fertilize with fertilizers rated for flowering trees. If it's one of the evergreen magnolias, full sun should be okay just make sure that it gets watered deeply, once a week and fertilized. When I mentioned fertilizer, I would fertilize in the spring and in mid-summer. When you said it begins to die, can you describe that process more please? Did you look at the dead growth to see if there were pests or fungus? I hope this helps.
Tom
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Very brown crunchy leaves. I see no pests or fungus. I believe now that the ground has no acid. I put acidic food on it and am just waiting now. It sounds as if the east side morning sun is okay. Maybe not enoough water. I will deep water 1x a week from now on.
Thank you so very much.
Mary Ann Kelley
Answer
Hi Mary Ann,
Brown crunchy leaves sounds like maybe not enough water. Magnolias like a lot of moisture and Southern California, as you know, can be very dry. Also, don't forget about side dressing with well-composted cow manure. You can buy this at the DIY or discount store. It has already decomposed and no longer smells bad but is very nutritious for plants. I hope this helps.
Tom
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