Question:
Some of my trees have started to bud and we are just starting the winter. One of them is my magnolia. I hope it will not bloom and then die in the frost.
Answer:
Unfortunately there’s not much we can do about the warm weather. A few years ago we had a similar situation and one of my magnolias bloomed early and we almost lost the tree when we had a severe frost. Let nature take its course, but if you have tender shoots and there is a severe frost forecast then, if possible, put a temporary barrier of sack cloth around as much of the tree as possible and remove it as soon as the frost danger is over. It’s a bit hit-and-miss but we can’t control the weather.
