| Container-grown Magnolia grandiflora were planted
in spring and fall with or without hardwood mulch and a complete fertilizer.
Fertilizer was placed either in the bottom of the planting hole, mixed with
the backfill, or surface applied after planting. Growth measurements were
made during 3 seasons. Height growth was not influenced by planting date
but was reduced the first season as a result of mulching. After 22 months,
however, mulched plants were significantly larger than controls. Fertilization
at planting resulted in significant height increases at every evaluation,
but fertilizer location was not a factor. Spring planting, mulching, and
fertilization resulted in significant increases in stem diameter. Spring
planting, mulching and soil incorporation of fertilizer resulted in significantly
more branches per plant during the third season. |