Magnolia Seedling – How to transplant

Question

I have two magnolia seedlings about 2 1/2 feet tall growing under my large magnolia. I went to dig them up and pot them to gift it to my parents, but when I dug down, I noticed that the roots on the seedlings were directly connected to the larger tree’s root system. How do I transplant these? Can I sever the roots where they are connected without damaging both the seedlings and the mother tree?

Answer 1

These suckers can be transplanted and have a good chance of surviving. You can simply dig up the suckers and pot them up in potting soil. When you dig them, up, make sure some of the roots come with the sucker. Keep them well watered and in the shade. When you see new leaf growth, they are ready to be transplanted into the ground. This process will not hurt the mother plant. Note: Depending on their size, you may want to pot the little trees up for at least a whole season before planting out in the yard. This way they will be able to form stronger roots.