Tree Characteristics

• The evergreen magnolia produces oval-shaped, glossy green leaves that have a thick, leatherlike texture. The tree should be planted in full sunlight to partial shade and in light, well-draining soil. Leaves will drop from the tree year-round, even when the tree is in perfect health. Other plants will have difficulty growing immediately under and around the tree because of its heavy leaf litter.
  
  

Winter Damage

• Winter is often associated with cold temperatures, but it causes tree damage for other reasons as well. Dry, harsh winds will take the moisture out of foliage, causing wilting. Bright sunlight, reflected by snow, may cause scorching and burning. Roots may also become exposed as the ground freezes and thaws around the tree. Winter conditions potentially cause damage to the tree. New growth and buds may be killed by frosts, and branches may break because of heavy snow or ice. Rodents are also active in winter and always searching for food; they may feed on the trunks and branches of evergreen magnolia and create their own damage.
  
  

Winter Preparation

• Do not fertilize or prune your evergreen magnolia from July to October. Pruning and fertilizing the tree will only encourage new growth, which may be damaged by dropping temperatures in fall and winter weather. Lay mulch 2 to 6 inches away from the base of the trunk, leaving a space of clear soil around the very bottom of the tree. Hungry rodents burrow into mulch in winter and eat right off the tree. In late spring, prune the tree to remove all damaged or dead branches. Trim away any bark that's split, peeling or cracked from the trunk.
  
  

Winter Tree Tasks

• Do not use salts to melt ice in garden areas. The soil absorbs the salt, which in turn is fed to plants and trees through their roots. Kitty litter, sand and sawdust will also help ice melt and provide walking traction. In extreme cold and ice, drive three stakes into the ground to form a triangle around the evergreen magnolia tree. Drape burlap fabric around the stakes to guard the tree against chilling wind, damaging ice and moisture loss.