How to Care for Edith Bogue Southern Magnolia

Overview

The Edith Bogue Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is a cold-hardy evergreen tree that can grow 30 to 40 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide at maturity. The Edith Bogue produces large, cup-shaped and fragrant, creamy-white flowers through the summer that can grow up to 10 inches across. This magnolia tree grows best in USDA Hardiness Zones 6 through 9, where minimum annual temperatures are -5 to -10 degrees Fahrenheit. The Edith Bogue's evergreen leaves are leathery, glossy, dense and about 8 inches wide. The Edith Bogue Southern magnolia has a naturally pyramidal shape.

Step 1

Plant your Edith Bogue Southern magnolia in full to partial sunlight. Select a site with well-draining soil that is large enough to accommodate the tree at its mature size. Mix into the soil some aged manure or organic compost prior to planting the tree.

Step 2

Water your Edith Bogue magnolia deeply once every week, soaking the soil down to the root zone. Water the tree two or three times each week during dry spells or hot temperatures.

Step 3

Feed your Southern magnolia tree in the spring, before the new growth emerges. Feed the tree with an all-purpose tree fertilizer according to the directions on the label.

Step 4

Prune your Edith Bogue in winter or early spring to remove any dead, damaged or crowded branches. You don't need to prune this tree to shape it, because the Edith Bogue Southern magnolia has a naturally tidy form.