Magnolia x brooklynensis 'Yellow Bird'

Plant magnolias in a sunny or semi shaded position with protection from cold winds and hard spring frosts.

Magnolias prefer a rich, moist, well drained, acid to neutral soil so incorporate plenty of well-rotted manure or garden compost to improve the soil prior to planting.

Magnolia plants establish quicker when their roots are shaded so apply a mulch of rotted bark chips, manure or garden compost after planting, taking care not to mound it around the stem of the plant.

• When planting, choose your site carefully as magnolias dislike being moved.
• Dig a hole twice the width of the roots, forking over the bottom to loosen the soil, and add some good quality fertiliser such as Blood Fish & Bone.
• Aim to plant at the same depth as it was in the pot.
• Holding the tree or plant upright in position with one hand, slowly backfill the hole with soil
• Use your heel to compact the soil around the plant to ensure good contact around the roots.
• If you're planting into pots, place some old rocks, stones or gravel in the bottom of the pot for drainage and ballast and use the best compost you can buy - an equal mix of ericaceous compost with John Innes No. 3 is ideal.
• For tall trees and shrubs, we highly recommend using our Tree Planting Kit. You only need to support the bottom half of each trunk, so push 40cm of each stake into the soil next to each tree.
• With the soft tie, make a figure of eight around both the trunk and stake, and fasten it off - your tree will now be better protected from strong winds.
• Spread the Mycorrhizal fungi on the roots and in the soil when planting and ensure that it is in close contact with the roots.
• Water the plants weekly - especially in dry weather - for the first 8 weeks or so - do not allow plants to dry out in the first four months after planting.
• When the soil and air warm up from late March onwards, you should see the plant burst into life.