with the soil looking that dry i suspect you arent watering deeply enough.. into the gob planted.. to get water down thru the root mass ...

put a hose on a trickle and let it run for a few hours ... build a little moat if it just runs away ...

and add a 3 to 4 foot ring of mulch around it.. to maintain the moisture you finally get down there ...

advise if you have non draining bad soil ...

btw.. how are you currently watering ???

even better.. take a hand trowel.. and dig a couple 3 to 6 inch holes in the gob planted.. and in native soil.. and FIND out if there is any moisture down at root level.. maybe do that first.. lol

where in teh world did youget a bare root plant that large???

throw in location.. big city name also ...

it is severely stressed.. moving it is only more stress ...

ken

Thank you for your advice. I'm in Brooklyn, NY. I've been watering it with a hose on shower everyday lately, filling the recessed root area which has leaf mulch at the base. Maybe it's not enough. I was worried the roots would get too wet and have issues if I watered it more. I noticed the leaves turning yellow around the time temperatures started to soar, high 90s, and at the same time the city tree expanded its canopy and blocked more of our yard's light. I tested the PH and looked for critters. Neither of those seem to be an issue. The light I can't control, but I'm trying your trick of leaving the hose on trickle. Much appreciated.

Oh also I bough the Magnolia from White Flower Farm.