Prevent Magnolia Trees From Leaving A Mess With A Simple Task You Can Manage

A magnolia tree can be a gem in any yard, providing lush foliage and large, stunning flowers that can reach up to a foot across in shades of white, pink, yellow, and purple. Native to several regions across the globe, including the United States, magnolias thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 10, making them a versatile choice for much of the country. Beyond their beauty, they can also provide valuable support in late summer and fall to local birds and pollinators, who can feed on the seeds of its fruit. While many magnolia species are deciduous and lose their leaves, two species native to the United States—Magnolia grandiflora and Magnolia virginiana—are evergreen, providing year-round greenery. Another bonus: Magnolias are often among the first trees to bloom in spring, ushering in the growing season with elegant—and fragrant—blossoms.

Caring for magnolia trees comes with a few drawbacks. They tend to drop their fruit, which can be messy. Additionally, while deciduous magnolias drop their leaves in fall, broadleaf evergreen magnolia trees don't shed all at once. Instead these plants lose their old leaves gradually in the spring, so you may find yourself raking for weeks. Plus, magnolia leaves are hard and waxy, can grow 5 to 10 inches long, and decompose slowly, which can make cleanup tough. You can prune overgrown magnolia trees, but it's often not enough to curb your workload. And while fallen leaves can nourish the soil if left to decompose, magnolia leaves are allelopathic, meaning they can prevent seed germination, stopping certain plants from growing. The leaves may also harm your turf by blocking sunlight, air, and water. However, by chopping them finely with your mower, you can transform the leaves into fuel for your lawn. 

While magnolia leaves can be beautiful and useful as ornamentation in wreaths and flower arrangements, they aren't as visually stunning when they are littering your patio or walkways. For leaves and spent seed pods on your lawn, remove the grass catcher from your mower and go over them with your machine, cutting them into dime-sized pieces. Lawn-care companies recommends mulching them until you can see half-an-inch of grass peeking through the mulched leaves. Similarly, for magnolia leaves that are blanketing your driveway, walkways, or patios, use a rake or leaf blower to pull or push them off those surfaces and onto your lawn so you can easily mow them. Breaking them into tiny pieces will aid decomposition.

Mulching your leaves instead of bagging them has multiple benefits. Not only will you avoid having to bag your leaves and drag them to the curb for disposal, but you will also ensure that they don't end up in an already-crowded landfill. Even better, the leaves can act like a slow-release fertilizer, adding organic matter and nutrients over time to your lawn to help it thrive. As mulch, they can suppress weeds and retain soil moisture, ensuring your grass stays as lush and healthy as your magnolia tree itself.