It sounds worth saving, and small enough to move without much damage to either plant. However, now is not the time to dig it up, as the plant is beginning its spring growth. Instead try late next autumn after it goes dormant. Then keep as much of the root ball intact. The magnolia will be okay, they are tough as nails.

In the meantime, for insurance purposes, now would be the perfect time to make some airlayers of the limbs in case the plant doesn't survive the move. Then you will still have some smaller babies to plant elsewhere no matter what happens. It is fun too.

Thanks for the reply. I'm going to take your advice and try to dig it up next fall/early winter. I'll pass, however, on the airlyer limbs idea as I have quite a few small camelias I can plant should the moved camellia not make it.

A couple montht ago DH and I moved an 8 foot, 20+ year old one to the backyard, and it is doing great. I don't think it will bloom this year, though. We dug it out by hand so we would not bother roots around it.

About 3 years ago, we cut it all the way down to a stump, and it grew right back!!