How to Transplant a Southern Magnolia Tree
- 1). Choose a planting site with full sun to partial shade. Southern magnolias thrive in well-drained, moist, acidic soils but will grow in most soil.
- 2). Find a location large enough for a fully grown southern magnolia, which reaches 60 to 80 feet tall with a 30- to 40-foot spread. The roots expand nearly four times the tree’s canopy, so stay clear of any obstructions within this area.
- 3). Dig the transplant hole equal to the depth of the container holding the southern magnolia, and two or three times the width. Digging a wide hole ensures the tree’s roots will expand into the surrounding soil.
- 4). Remove the southern magnolia from the container, do away with any encircling roots, then place the root ball in the center of the hole. Check the height of the tree to ensure it's not planted deeper in the ground than it grew in the nursery container.
- 5). Backfill the hole, then saturate the area with water to settle the tree in place. Water the southern magnolia deeply every seven to 10 days, except during rain. Continue to water the tree deeply during the growing season, from spring through fall, for at least two seasons after transplanting to allow the roots to establish. Water this evergreen during any extended dry periods through the winter months as well.
- 6). Add a 3- to 5-inch layer of mulch around the base of the southern magnolia to deter weeds and retain moisture. Extend the mulch out as far as needed to cover the area beneath the tree’s canopy. Apply mulch annually to sustain the same depth and enlarge the area covered as the southern magnolia’s canopy widens.
