Being a gardener in winter is hard!
You’re used to your plants talking to you.
You have the best conversations in spring and summer - even fall, if they’re really vibing with the gossip.
Your plants tell you everything: how much they’re loving their new sunny spot, how itchy that case of spider mites was, how the vines from next door are constantly creeping over, how they’re absolutely thirsting after your garden hose in the heat of June… There's enough tea to fill a whole pot!
And then, winter enters the picture. Your plants get quieter. They drop everything - flowers, leaves, you name it. The ones that keep their leaves in the cold have always been introverts anyway, and when winter arrives, they’re still quiet.
How do you know what plants need more water or more sun if they don’t have leaves to show you?
Are you supposed to do anything for your evergreens? They’re, well, always green. It’s difficult to tell.
…Is that one plant even still alive?
Yikes.
It doesn’t have to be this way…
Sort of.
We can’t change winter, and winter is an important part of the life cycle of so many species. Winter will always come, ready or not.
What we can change, however, is your knowledge, and knowledge is power!
Let’s start with your beloved Southern Magnolia tree.
Excellent choice!
We revere Southern Magnolias for their beauty, even in the face of environmental adversity. They might not look like it, but these trees are tough.
In order to know how to care for our Southern Magnolias in the winter, we need to know what they’re doing the rest of the year.
Spring
Southern Magnolias adore sunlight. Once the short days of winter are over, these trees shed the last of their leaves (the old ones that have simply come to the end of their time on the branch), and they erupt in verdant new growth.
Sparse branches fill themselves out with new greenery, and in late spring, you’ll see flower buds.
Summer
It’s flowering season! The enormous creamy blooms that everyone gushes over make their appearance in the summer, and the pollinators leave no petals untouched. You’ll even start to see seed pods!
Fall
All your other trees explode with color, but not your magnolia. This tree doesn’t change colors, meaning it’s not deciduous. Instead, it’s evergreen. Some leaves might fall here and there, but it’s nothing like the massive shed by the rest of your yard. Your tree is about to go into “battery saver mode.”
Winter
Your magnolia is sleeping off the adventure, but she really puts the “beauty” in “beauty sleep.” You won’t see any new growth, but you will see some light shed of leaves that were damaged or ready to drop. All your tree’s growth is happening underground, as the plant diverts all its energy to its root ball. When spring comes again, it’ll need access to more nutrients and resources to explode with growth, and roots are its network of access.
So, What’s Happening?
Basically, your tree is doing the bare minimum while the climate is at its most extreme.
Some of its energy goes toward maintaining (but not growing) its foliage, but most of the plant’s attention is on its roots. All of its resources - the little bit of winter sun, water, and the nutrients it can access - go toward expanding the root system of the tree.
In winter, your magnolia’s priority is building a larger root network.
Got it. How do I, as a gardener, support this?
Glad you asked!
By now, you should have done a few things. But, if you didn’t know or just haven’t gotten to it, February is the perfect month to knock out that to-do list.
Playing Catch-Up
Here’s what you should already have done. If not, start here - It’s not too late, but soon, it will be!
Pruning
While the tree is focussed on its roots, it’s time to prune. The harder you prune a magnolia, the harder it’ll flush in the summer!
Start by removing dead, diseased, or damaged boughs. You can be aggressive with this. Use a saw or pruning shears to get clean cuts. Remember, this is tree surgery. Clean cuts recover faster.
Next, take a look at the shape of your tree. Are you happy with it? Now is the perfect time to remove unruly branches and shape your tree however you like.
We prune while the tree is “asleep” in the winter to avoid stressing the tree. Pruning is controlled damage, just like surgery, so it’s important to do this while the tree isn’t trying to put out new growth.
You can always prune the odd branch here and there any time during the year - and definitely do this if part of the tree sustains damage or disease. However, reserve the majority of your pruning for the winter.
February is really your last window to prune before the tree comes out of its dormant state, so don’t wait!
Transplanting
Whether you need to relocate your tree, or move it from a pot to in-ground, winter is the time to do this.
Moving is a stressful event, so once again, we do stressful treatments while the tree is dormant. Always capture as much of the root ball as possible. Remember, the tree’s focus is here. We want to enable healthy root growth in a new location, not eliminate and destroy the work it’s already done.
February Care
Already handle your pruning and transplanting? Great! Onto the next tasks.
Fertilizer
Your tree is almost ready to wake up. Just like us, it appreciates a nutritious breakfast before it starts springtime work. A slow release (6 month) tree & shrub fertilizer from your local home improvement store will do the trick!
Slow release fertilizers gradually release their nutrient load over time, so your tree gets a steady amount of nutrient boost. These fertilizers are a little more expensive up front, but you use less over time, making them more cost effective in the long run. They’re also better for the environment than quick release fertilizers.
Be sure to read the instructions. Fertilizer is good for your tree, but not the best for the environment. Use this tool with intentionality to garden responsibly.
Mulch
Mulch helps decrease the amount of water your tree requires during the heat of summer by retaining water. It’s also great for weed control; just make sure there aren’t any weeds around your tree when you apply your mulch.
We really love natural material mulch, but use whatever you prefer.
See? February tree care is simple.
As temperatures warm, gradually increase the frequency of your watering for the tree. Once every two weeks is a great starting point for February, and once a week one spring & summer heat hits.
The tree does most of the heavy lifting for you, as long as you give it a little nudge of encouragement. These trees are ancient, so try not to worry - you’re a more than capable gardener!
What plant should we cover next?
