Sweet bay magnolia - Ask Extension
I have a sweet bay magnolia that I planted about 3 years ago in my side yard. It is about 15 feet tall and very healthy.
I was thinking of transpl...
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Sweet bay magnolia #881048
Asked August 11, 2024, 4:01 PM EDT
I have a sweet bay magnolia that I planted about 3 years ago in my side yard. It is about 15 feet tall and very healthy.
I was thinking of transplanting it to an area where it will be supplied with daily ground water from our French drain in our house. I am looking for plants that will do well in a swampy situation.
The area will have loose rock and will have holes for the water loving plants in addition to the tree. I was hoping you could let me know if this is a good idea, as well as if early fall would be a good time to dig it up.
Also what is the root system like? How far should I go out from the trunk as I dig it out?
Thanks so much,
Rebekah
Baltimore County Maryland
Expert Response
Hello; Thanks for submitting your garden and landscaping questions to the University of Maryland Ask Extension service.
Please see this UMd Extension webpage Planting a Tree or Shrub:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/planting-tree-or-shrub/. See the section 'Transplanting a Tree' as it lays out the timing and care involved in doing this very hard project. Also see the section 'Root Pruning' to give advice on how far out dig and move your tree.
Question: can you leave your healthy Sweetbay Magnolia in place as it seems happy where it is and try for something else to grow in your wet location? Swampy soils can be a difficult setting for nearly any plant to grow in except plants that have evolved to grow in those conditions. Most wetland plants can tolerate seriously wet conditions periodically, but the majority would prefer moist conditions or good drainage most other times.
Good luck in your landscaping efforts. Thanks; Christopher
Please see this UMd Extension webpage Planting a Tree or Shrub:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/planting-tree-or-shrub/. See the section 'Transplanting a Tree' as it lays out the timing and care involved in doing this very hard project. Also see the section 'Root Pruning' to give advice on how far out dig and move your tree.
Question: can you leave your healthy Sweetbay Magnolia in place as it seems happy where it is and try for something else to grow in your wet location? Swampy soils can be a difficult setting for nearly any plant to grow in except plants that have evolved to grow in those conditions. Most wetland plants can tolerate seriously wet conditions periodically, but the majority would prefer moist conditions or good drainage most other times.
Good luck in your landscaping efforts. Thanks; Christopher
