Litte Gem magnolia problem

[Moira McLachlan]

Can anyone help me with this problem. I live in central Victoria and have a row of little gems as a hedge. Planted 3 years ago. This one's leaves are drooping, turn yellow then brown and drop off. Two others did the same thing a year ago and died.
We are currently experiencing heat waves, but I have been watering regularly. The soil had good drainage and is not water logged.

 

[oneeye]

Can anyone help me with this problem. I live in central Victoria and have a row of little gems as a hedge. Planted 3 years ago. This one's leaves are drooping, turn yellow then brown and drop off. Two others did the same thing a year ago and died.
We are currently experiencing heat waves, but I have been watering regularly. The soil had good drainage and is not water logged.

You are alright friend. I don't think you have a problem yet. It's normal to lose a few leaves this time of the year. Magnolia's drop their leaves just like other trees but during different times than regular deciduous trees. Keep the soil airated around the base of the plant between waterings. Keep us posted

 

[Moira McLachlan]

Thank you

 

[cpp gardener]

Can you post a picture of the entire tree?
It being the middle of Fall in Australia (rather than Spring in the US), lots of dropping leaves is not normal.

 

[Moira McLachlan]

Can you post a picture of the entire tree?
It being the middle of Fall in Australia (rather than Spring in the US), lots of dropping leaves is not normal.

The first two pics are both sides of the tree and the third pic is of the tree next to a healthy tree, all planted at the same time 3 years ago.

 

[cpp gardener]

How do you irrigate? Sprinklers? Hand watering?
If sprinklers, what schedule and duration?
Have you used any fertilizer recently? What kind; how much?

It does look like something is going on with the root system more than a pest or disease. Try moving/removing some of the ground cover underneath it to see what might be going on there. Post some pictures of that area, too.

 

[Moira McLachlan]

It's a 15-minute sprinkler system that goes on every second day. All trees get the same treatment. It has been very hot and dry here for months, with no rain. I can post pics of the surrounding ground at the end of the week as not there until then. Will post more pics of the tree and it's condition then. I am concerned it may have been poisoned by a neighbour. I have been advise to treat it with epsom salts and magnesium which I have done @ 2teaspoons per litre.

 

[cpp gardener]

Epsom salts are magnesium sulfate so you don’t have to add extra magnesium.
I wondered why the ground cover under one Magnolia looked good and dead under the other. That’s why I asked about clearing it and photographing it. Do you have any idea why a neighbor would do that?
You could set it up to leach out anything that might be affecting the trees. Water for an hour to completely, thoroughly dilute anything toxic. You can repeat it in 4 days. You can expect more leaf-drop for a bit and then you should see some improvement in about a month if it worked. It’s not peak season for new growth, but if it’s been held back by soil conditions, the leaching should stimulate healthy growth. Since your climate is so mild, new growth is in little danger of frost damage.

 

[Moira McLachlan]

This is the 3rd tree that has been affected this way. The property next door is an air bnb short stay accommodation with a deck that overlooks our property. We have requested the owner put a privacy screen up but they will not do it. We planted the trees for our privacy but they keep mysteriously dying.
Thank you for your care and advice. I will try it.

 

[Moira McLachlan]

This is the 3rd tree that has been affected this way. The property next door is an air bnb short stay accommodation with a deck that overlooks our property. We have requested the owner put a privacy screen up but they will not do it. We planted the trees for our privacy but they keep mysteriously dying.
Thank you for your care and advice. I will try it.

 

[Moira McLachlan]

View attachment 108385

We had just under 30ml of rain yesterday, so the soil is wet but not sodden. Here's a picture of the soil and the tree today. It definitely looks like it is following the same path as the other two trees did last year. I was advised to check if the trunk was loose in the ground, indicating something wrong with the roots. The tree is firm in the ground.

 

[cpp gardener]

That really isn’t that much rain, especially if it’s been awhile since the last storm. Try the deep soak technique to help wash any toxins away.

 

[Moira McLachlan]

That really isn’t that much rain, especially if it’s been awhile since the last storm. Try the deep soak technique to help wash any toxins away.

How often should I do this and how lo g on between soaking?

 

[cpp gardener]

Water for about an hour and then again in 4 days.

 

[Moira McLachlan]

Water for about an hour and then again in 4 days.

ok, I'll do that.