Help, Edit- Pictures added. However they really don't show up well. The first is still all green with exception of one brown branch. Second and third photo are tree that is probably going to die ☹️. Had some green and brown branches yesterday, now today they are almost all brown on outside.

We planted 2 Little gem Magbolias last year. Some issues with leaves browning but I believe that was a water issue with hotter temperatures.

1. This year the main trunk from ground and up tree to other branches are graying, is that normal?

2. This year same issue with water, this time husband turned system off and forgot to turn back on. Or the water is not getting deep enough.

The Leaves browned, I removed some and some fell out. They are leafless now, will anymore grow this year?

3. On one of the trees, some branches browned. I scraped the skin layer and I see some green and some brown. The fuzzy tips just break off. So do I just cut the branch to where the green startsp? Do I leave the brown branch, as long as inside is green?

Please help!
Karen

A picture may help.

Doesn't look hopeful but you could water well and wait. Like a hose and puddles, not just sprinkling.

Are any cultivars of Southern Magnolias (Magnolia grandiflora) really suited for Southern California, especially in the midst of historic drought? I'm asking. In their native ranges they are getting at least 40-60 inches of rain per year, and it rains year round.

Well I'm originally from the south and would agree about the rainfall for Magnolias however when finding these Litte Gem
Magnolias in a LOCAL nursery and doing research, it states "This tree does prefer a moist soil especially when newly planted. When your tree is newly planted, water deeply 3 times per week. Water 1 to 2 times per week for the next couple months. After establishment your Magnolia will be drought tolerant and only need watering once weekly in summer." So i bought them.

Back to my issue. I was wrong about the water issue, it appears they severe powdery mildew or Scale. I'm leaning more towards mildew. I only hope I can save them but does not look promising.

I have 12 Little Gem's in SE Texas (9B). If you haven't already recovered, I suggest pruning one skinny, leafless branch from the main stem - nothing more, just one. Wait a few weeks/months to see if any new growth sprouts under that prune. If so, that's how you can stimulate new growth. Caution against pruning too many branches at one time and only prune skinny branches extending from the main stem. Someone may have pruned down the main stem in the beginning. I'm sorry if that's what happened. If it did, try to get a main trunk back into dominance. I hope this helps.

Mine handle whatever is thrown at them - freezing temps, sweltering temps, scorching sun, etc. After 2023 they started browning but I just let it ride and it recovered. They're extremely tolerant so I hope yours recovers.

southernbluz said: Help, Edit- Pictures added. However they really don't show up well. The first is still all green with exception of one brown branch. Second and third photo are tree that is probably going to die ☹️. Had some green and brown branches yesterday, now today they are almost all brown on outside.

We planted 2 Little gem Magbolias last year. Some issues with leaves browning but I believe that was a water issue with hotter temperatures.

1. This year the main trunk from ground and up tree to other branches are graying, is that normal?

2. This year same issue with water, this time husband turned system off and forgot to turn back on. Or the water is not getting deep enough.

The Leaves browned, I removed some and some fell out. They are leafless now, will anymore grow this year?

3. On one of the trees, some branches browned. I scraped the skin layer and I see some green and some brown. The fuzzy tips just break off. So do I just cut the branch to where the green startsp? Do I leave the brown branch, as long as inside is green?

Please help!
Karen

FYI, thread originated over 2 years ago