🌳 Plant journal 🌲

[secuono]

Looks like I don't have a general planting thread going.

Husband ordered some pricey trees, without any planning. They sent 2 of one kind instead of one of each. Haven't heard back.

I found an ad on FB for some cheap plants. We both managed to misread the ad, and after 2hrs driving, I decided to buy some anyway. If the guy spoke good English and knew the prices, I would of wandered and gotten others. But I had to get home by dark, so spending an hour+ struggling to understand each other wasn't going to happen.

Where are they going? Idk. Need to block the neighbors. Hate seeing their houses, especially the guy that does airbnb. He added horse boarding this winter. With a constant flow of strangers that are crazy, cannot follow simple rules, nor the law, I'm going to block them out of our lives as much as possible.

Here's both questionable purchases...

The white pine was a huge mistake. I told him no. We have those at the old place. They're fast, but very weak and the messy sap from any damage is unbelievable.
I always wanted a Magnolia. I hope it can thrive in Va.
Others were for an outdoor Xmas tree. To decorate it vs the plastic one in the house. I was still looking around when he just jumped the gun and there they all were.
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Then my haul. I asked him which ones, how many and if X price was okay.
6ft, with pot, Magnolia. They didn't say what kind. Anyone know? Lol
5ft, with pot, two Oakleaf Holly. Also always wanted some. 14×8ft. Maybe by the AC corner, on the strong slopes, to block the crazy winds. It's already flipped the AC once before, so it needs protection.
And then 12 Green Giants to block.
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Idk where it'll all go....I'll have to really think n wander n more thinking to decide.


Can I plant now and not water/set up drips until spring??

Any insights?

So, they sent the wrong tree and never responded when DH contacted them. Crap company like the reviews say.

 

[secuono]

The Magnolias totally died...Store said they do that, oh well. Wtf.
Idk if it's just the leaves or whole tree yet....Hundreds on two trees and they're crispy....

 

[ducks4you]

So Sorry. Yes, they are dead. i get to look at my Magnolia Jane every day and they don't look like that.
Try again! Pick some that are rated for your growing zone.
I'm betting that the winter killed them off.

 

[secuono]

So Sorry. Yes, they are dead. i get to look at my Magnolia Jane every day and they don't look like that.
Try again! Pick some that are rated for your growing zone.
I'm betting that the winter killed them off.

I'm not wasting more money when nurseries just scam you and tell you to kick rocks about my bad luck. And they're rated to be here, many have them.

 

[flowerbug]

I'm not wasting more money when nurseries just scam you and tell you to kick rocks about my bad luck. And they're rated to be here, many have them.

did they sit out in pots all winter? i can't tell from the picture, but if so that probably did not help their chances...

any green leaves indicate life so you could wait and see if they recover at all. trim off any stems that are dry and brittle back to any green bark and alive areas. i'm assuming you know at least something about pruning and trimming...

 

[Dahlia]

The Magnolias totally died...Store said they do that, oh well. Wtf.
Idk if it's just the leaves or whole tree yet....Hundreds on two trees and they're crispy....
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Are magnolia trees difficult to grow? I think they are one of the most gorgeous trees out there!

 

[secuono]

did they sit out in pots all winter? i can't tell from the picture, but if so that probably did not help their chances...

any green leaves indicate life so you could wait and see if they recover at all. trim off any stems that are dry and brittle back to any green bark and alive areas. i'm assuming you know at least something about pruning and trimming...

That's how they're kept at nurseries. Bought in middle of winter. Cannot.dig frozen ground.

 

[ducks4you]

I double protected my magnolia (cross) It was rated for zone 4, but I called "Julie", sprayed my possible dig hole (which was in the front yard) to be sure that I didn't have a gas line or electric line, they sprayed painted "OK", so I planted it on the east side of the house to protect it from our nasty winter winds. I have had no winter dieback.
I am in zone 6a.
Look to buy a magnolia cross--which, unless you live in the deep south means the native magnolia can't survive where you live, and try planting a magnolia in at least one zone further north, like mine, zone 6.
ALSO, although I lucked out buying mine from a box store, the box stores are notorious for selling ANYTHING. I once saw a white rose for sale, clearly marked "zone 10."
I don't have a sun room or arboretum attached to my house, so that was a no go.
Nurseries may Look like they leave these pots outside, but they DO have greenhouses and, they will keep plants inside if they think they might die, then put them outside when it's warm enough.
I try to pay attention to professional advice.
As I get ready to prune STILL this winter, I heard on this week's Mid American Gardener, to wait on my magnolia tree until after bloom time, so I will wait until June to prune it.
I agree, if there is still some "wick" you could try pruning back.
I always run out of planting time, but I have had success burying trees in their pots in my garden beds, top of the pot level with the soil.

 

[Shades-of-Oregon]

Whenever I purchase trees and plants I always plant them as soon as possible before the winter arrives. Or place them in a covered building , frost tents , healing in , or something to protect the roots exposure in pots to freezing temps during winters. We all have experienced at some point freezing temps that can kill plants if not protected against the winter temps.

Over the years I have planted 8 Janet Magnolias a smaller tree 20-25 feet , on the east side of the house to shade the home and my tiny greenhouse from the extreme heat during summer high temps. They are the first flowering tree to bloom in early spring. Always a welcome sight.

 

[AriBriggs]

Magnolias, hollies and Green Giants should do great. Just keep them watered before winter.