There are around 230 different varieties of magnolias worldwide, adapted to different climate zones. Around 100 of these magnolias are suitable for the Central European climate, but often still need protection from winter frosts when they are young.
How to protect magnolias in winter?
To protect magnolias in winter, young trees should be covered with mulch, leaves and brushwood in the root area and the trunk should be wrapped with fleece (€6.00 at Amazon). In the event of late frosts, it is recommended to protect the plants with fleece or foil so that the sensitive flowers are not damaged.
Young magnolias need a lot of protection
The younger a magnolia tree is, the more sensitive it is to cold temperatures. Winter hardiness only occurs with age when the tree has adapted to the prevailing climate and has also been able to develop sufficient resistance. For this reason, you should play it safe and provide younger magnolias with winter protection. The most important thing is to protect the roots, which are flat and therefore close to the surface of the earth, from frost.
- Apply a thick layer of bark mulch throughout the root area.
- This is followed by another thick layer of foliage (e.g. from the deciduous magnolia itself)
- As a third layer, brushwood completes the root protection.
- In severe frost, you can wrap the trunk with fleece (€6.00 on Amazon) and cover the crown with foil.
From around the beginning to mid-March you can - provided the weather is spring-like - remove the winter protection, but you should not put it away yet.
Be careful with late frosts
Instead, especially with the early-flowering varieties, it is important to regularly follow the weather forecast and protect the magnolia from the onset of late frosts. These destroy the sensitive blossom and turn the fragrant flower ball into brown mud. Early-flowering potted magnolias should be placed indoors overnight, while planted magnolias are protected with fleece or film. Alternatively, you can of course decide on a late-blooming magnolia from the outset.
Overwintering magnolias in a pot
Pot magnolias overwinter best under cold house conditions, i.e. H. in a protected and frost-free place at a maximum of 10 °C. If this is not possible, you can leave the pot outside with appropriate protective measures.
- Place the bucket in a sheltered spot on a warm south wall.
- Place the bucket on a thick block of wood.
- Wrap the container with fleece or bubble wrap.
- Cover the branches with a jute bag.
- Protect the roots with a thick layer of mulch and brushwood.
Make sure that the magnolia does not dry out, even in winter. The plant needs to be watered additionally on frost-free days, but not fertilized.
Tips & Tricks
By the way, the particularly hardy magnolia varieties are among the earliest to bloom, although their flowers are just as sensitive to frost as those of all other magnolias.
