I hope you get some answers from knowledgable people, I'm just visiting to get help for myself, but I'll be interested in the replies as I am considering a magnolia. I do wonder if there are too close to the wall/foundation, and maybe the PH may be off and/or they could be getting cooked from the heat...? Good luck!

gramarows is probably correct that the reflected heat from the wall is causing much of the problem. Another real possibility - especially if the magnolias were planted from containers - is that the root balls have dried out even though the surrounding soil is moist. This can easily occur with a peat-based container medium after a plant is placed in very different soil. The root ball dries out and is very difficult to rewet. Only real cure is to dig up the trees and soak the roots if they are dry, then replant.

gramarrows is also correct that this planting area is awfully restricted for a magnolia. Magnolia roots remain near the surface and tend to spread horizontally. Even so-called dwarf magnolias are trees. They need a great deal more room than they have here. Finally ,the connection between reduced lawn watering and the trees is completely unclear to me.

when planted last year??? .. if fall .. and this is its first summer... its not getting enough water ... probably baking against that wall ... aw heck.. everything they said ...

ken

The big one was planted earlier this spring. The little one was planted last year. I checked the big tree with my little luster leaf moisture meter. It registered a 5 but was just watered last night. It gets watered weekly.

That bed is too narrow for most perennials, let alone trees.

That would be a nice place to espalier a pear tree or peach but I guess you don't need that extra heat in the US

So we've established the magnolias have to go. I can rehome them with a friend in the south bay who has more open area and less heat.

What should I put here? Would a dwarf fruit tree work?

If you live in a drought climate area, then consider something much smaller and drought tolerant. There are a good number of smaller shrubs and perennials and even groundcovers that could work but we'd need to know your location to make suggestions. The bed is too narrow to accommodate anything that gets to much size.

This is not a great tree planting location so forget a fruit tree. An espaliered one as suggested could work but not a smart selection if you are experiencing any sort of prolonged drought.

Hi Eric Bergen, I'm gonna surprize you, you are not posting on a regional forum, posters from all over the world respond here. When I hear "south bay" I think of Chesapeake Bay, is that what you mean?

Neither myself nor anyone else can give you much of an answer since we were not the ones who planted your mangolias ☺. What did you find when you dug the hole? Was it filled with construction rubble or good soil? Is it enclosed or does it drain well? Do you see newly planted trees in other locations (ie neighbors) if so, how do they look. What is the history of your planting area? Did plants grow well in that area in the past?

Here is a witchhazel trained as an espalier in Pennsylvania. It just so happens that magnolias can also be favorite espalier topics, especially on a wall without windows.

If you are in a part of the country that routinely experiences drought consider replacing with sedum, sempervivum or some other such plant.

Sorry, I'm in northern california. South bay referring to the san francisco bay area.

The soil seems fine. It doesn't puddle up there when it rains so I assume it drains well. The soil seems fine. I don't know much about soil. There wasn't any construction rubble or anything in the area. Most of the dirt there was from further out in the yard where the mow strip was dug out. My neighbors trees all seem to be doing fine it is just my three that have issues.

It's either hot dry winds or mineral salts in the irrigation water. When you check the soil moisture do you look inside the original soil balls? Until these root out well it will be like the shrubs are still in the pots, with a similar frequency of watering probably being required.