If you’ve been following us on Facebook or Instagram, you might’ve seen a recent video sharing how we prepare our wreaths every winter for the fall. Hundreds of fresh wreaths are placed in our barn to dry out so that they can be decorated for our fall collection. Some of these wreaths will be decorated with colorful turkey & pheasant feathers and magnolia seed pods to become our best-selling Turkey Pheasant Wreath, others will simply get a thin coat of light green lacquer for the natural look of our Greenery & Velvet Wreath. But after the holiday season, we aren’t just busy preparing our wreaths for the fall season, we’re also busy making sure our magnolia trees continue to grow strong and happy during the winter.
While Magnolia trees are pretty hardy, there are a few things you can do to keep your Magnolias protected during the winter season. So, today we wanted to answer all of your winter care questions as we get into the thick of winter. Proper care for Magnolia trees through the winter can be accomplished with several different techniques. You need to ask yourself a couple of questions. First, what type of magnolia tree do I have planted in my landscape? If it is a deciduous Magnolia like a Magnolia Ann, Jane or Star Magnolia tree, then you do not need winter care unless you are located in a zone 4 or colder because these are very cold hardy.
As soon as you know which type of Magnolia tree you have, keep reading to learn everything you need to know about protecting your Magnolia trees during the winter.
As winter sets in and temperatures drop, gardens lose their vibrancy Deciduous trees shed their foliage, leaving bare branches reaching towards gray skies Perennial beds lie dormant under blankets of snow. At first glance, it seems like nothing could survive such harsh conditions. But a closer look reveals that nature is far from dead in winter. Life continues under the surface.
A perfect example is the magnolia tree. Magnolia buds serve as beacons of hope during the cold months, promising renewed growth and beauty when warmer weather returns.
What Do Magnolia Buds Look Like in Winter?
Magnolia buds are large, plump, and covered in soft, fuzzy hairs that resemble fur coats. These downy coverings help insulate the buds from frigid winter temperatures.
If you examine a magnolia tree in winter, you’ll see the fat fuzzy buds dotting the bare branches. Scattered on the ground, you may find empty magnolia bud scales, shed from last year’s growth.
Inside each wintry magnolia bud, tender new growth awaits. Flower buds house embryonic blooms, while leaf buds protect developing foliage. It’s easy to distinguish between the two types of buds. Flower buds are oval-shaped and larger, while leaf buds are smaller and more cone-like.
When Are Magnolia Buds Formed?
Magnolia trees set their buds in late summer and fall, months before they burst open. Within each plump bud, miniature leaves and fully-formed flowers lie dormant, awaiting spring’s arrival to emerge.
Proper watering and care in late summer and early fall is crucial for magnolia trees to develop strong buds. Insufficient water at this key stage can mean fewer or weaker buds, impacting flowering and foliage the following spring.
Significance of Magnolia Buds
Seeing those fat fuzzy buds on bare magnolia branches serves as a promise that winter won’t last forever. While the landscape may appear bleak, magnolia buds offer hope that warmer weather brings renewal. They symbolize the future rather than the present.
For hopeful gardeners, magnolia buds represent the potential for new growth and beauty around the corner. Though the tree looks barren now, the buds hint at an abundance of flowers and leaves to come. They remind us spring’s rebirth awaits.
Caring for Magnolias in Winter
Though magnolias are quite hardy some winter care tips will keep them healthy
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Wrap trunks with burlap to prevent freeze damage.
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Apply mulch around the base for insulation.
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Water occasionally during dry periods to prevent desiccation.
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Prune damaged branches to encourage new growth.
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Avoid heavy pruning during winter months.
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Shelter trees from harsh winds.
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Choose cold-tolerant varieties like Star Magnolia.
Appreciating Magnolias in Winter
Even leafless and flowerless, magnolias offer unique winter interest:
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Examine plump buds and imagine the blooms inside.
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Appreciate interesting bark textures and branching patterns.
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Notice elegant bare silhouettes and shapes.
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Collect fallen magnolia bud scales as mementos.
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Enjoy how low sunlight filters through bare branches.
Though other plants lie dormant, magnolias provide subtler winter beauty. Their promise of renewal offers respite from gloomy days until spring rejuvenates the landscape once more.
Cold-Hardy Winter Magnolias
Southern Magnolia
Southern magnolias are evergreen trees that retain their large, glossy green leaves through winter. Their huge, fragrant white blooms appear in summer. These magnolias thrive across the southeastern United States.
Saucer Magnolia
Saucer magnolias are deciduous trees prized for their early spring blooms in shades of pink and white. Large flowers open on bare branches before the leaves emerge.
Star Magnolia
Star magnolias blossom very early in spring, sometimes even opening flowers amidst snowfall. Their white blooms with slender petals add cheer after winter. These compact magnolias work well in colder climates.
Lily Magnolia
Lily magnolias produce elegant white flowers in early spring as the weather warms. This deciduous magnolia remains quite compact compared to many varieties.
Final Thoughts
Magnolia buds endure winter with promises of brighter days ahead. Although the trees appear barren, the plump buds remind us growth lies dormant rather than dead. With proper care, magnolias will flourish again when conditions improve. Their winter buds offer hope that the garden will soon revive. Even in the depths of winter, signs of renewal await.
In what zones can you plant a Magnolia tree?
Magnolia trees like the Magnolia Ann, Magnolia Jane, and Start Magnolia tree are very cold hardy and do not need winter care unless you are located in a zone 4 or colder. If you have a Southern Magnolia, which is an evergreen tree, you will need to protect it in the winter if you live in zones colder than zone 7.
How do I protect my Magnolia tree against the cold?
If you live in a zone 4 or colder and you are facing a severe freeze you can protect your tree by wrapping the trunk and branches with blankets and mulching the top of the root ball to insulate any shallow roots. One technique which will take a bit of time and should be completed before the end of December is to put 3 or 4 tall stakes around the tree.
The stakes will provide a frame to wrap burlap and then fill the void with leaves for insulation. Make sure the stakes are 18″ away from the branches. The stakes should extend several feet above the top of the tree. Circle the outside of the stakes with two layers of burlap and secure the burlap to the stakes using plastic zip ties. Burlap can be purchased in 3 foot wide rolls. The final step is to add dry leaves and pack around the branches and tree trunk.
Most importantly, before planting select a protected site from the harsh winter elements that can still get a lot of sunlight in the spring and summer. Southern Magnolia trees are evergreen so their leaves will stay on and leaf out with beautiful large deep green leaves during the winter.
Magnolia ‘Jane’ – Jane Deciduous Magnolia
FAQ
Why are my magnolia buds not opening in the winter?
If winter weather is wet, the closed magnolia buds can rot. Cold fall weather can bring frosts earlier than usual before the buds are prepared for it. This can prevent flowers in spring. If the closed buds are falling from the tree in spring instead of opening, this may well be a sign of damaging spring frosts.
Why does my magnolia tree have buds on it in fall?
Magnolias set flower buds in the late summer and fall for the following year’s flowering, and the removal of live branches can prune out the blooms. For the safest way to ensure your Magnolia is pruned both correctly and safely, have professional tree care experts take care of the task for you.
What do magnolia trees look like in the winter?
Southern Magnolia trees are evergreen so their leaves will stay on and leaf out with beautiful large deep green leaves during the winter.
Can magnolia buds survive frost?
While buds are freeze-resistant, open magnolia flowers can quickly turn brown after exposure to temperatures about 30°F or lower. One way to avoid freeze-damaged flowers is to choose later blooming cultivars.