magnolia tree was fine in spring but now is dead

Question

I planted a southern magnolia tree last year and was doing good. Spring came and it had buds looking like it was going to bloom but then the blooms didnt open. They died and fell and now tree appears to be dead. What happened? If I plant another in its place, will this happen again? Please help. Thank you.

Answer 1

When you say the “tree appears to be dead” can you be more descriptive? What do the leaves look like?

Here is an article that discusses why magnolia trees do not bloom:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/magnolia/magnolia-blooming-problems.htm

Answer 2

Like all leaves fell and branches are dead have a tiny sprout coming out of very bottom of the trunk

Answer 3

I would verify that the tree is truly dead via a scratch test, which is explained at the following website:

http://www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/article/how-to-do-a-scratch-test/

What did the dropped leaves look like? Were they spotted or stippled?

It’s hard to say why your tree died. I will caution you that magnolias are very susceptible to a disease called verticillium wilt, which is caused by soil borne fungi and is fatal. You may want to consider having a soil test done for verification. If it tests positive, then replanting in that area should be with plants that are not susceptible to the disease.