Magnolia has no blooms this year

April 28, 2024 7:24 AM

I sprinkled Miracle-Gro around last fall and according to the internet this was a mistake. How can I fix this?

Too much nitrogen is the problem, apparently. Solutions suggested include leaching and planting legumes? Any other advice would be appreciated.

Also, should I trim off the buds that didn't bloom so as to enable new ones to form? I know this is helpful with lilacs, but I don't know about trees.

posted by Enid Lareg to Home & Garden (4 answers total)

The University of Washington's horticulture library discusses the problem but it doesn't sound like you can force the tree to bloom this year, whether a cold snap killed off the buds or too much quick release nitrogen pushed the tree into solely focusing on leaf production this year (here's the Garden Professors' advice on fertilizers in general).

Something you can do now is get your soil tested.

And as always, ask your local university's agriculture extension office for advice.
posted by spamandkimchi at 8:23 AM on April 28 [3 favorites]

To reduce nitrogen in its root zone I would mow/clip/pull all the grass or green annuals there and compost them somewhere else. Twice. Let them move it for you. I wouldn’t dig the root zone, though, unless advised by a magnolia expert.

I would also find out, from a magnolia expert, whether a spring of excess vegetative growth meant I should prune it later, and if so when?
posted by clew at 2:09 PM on April 28

Not sure where you are but I’m in west coast Florida and my magnolias threw a few extra buds seemingly at the last minute and they’re still opening. Are you sure your bloom is over?
posted by toodleydoodley at 7:47 PM on April 28

Response by poster: I've had two blooms. The rest are still closed tight. All the magnolias in this part of Southern Ontaio are blooming like mad, and mine is usually great by now. We didn't have a late frost.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I will research further.
posted by Enid Lareg at 9:54 PM on April 28