Is your magnolia turning brown or dying? There are a number of different reasons this can happen, and there are usually some common ways to treat each issue. In this article, gardening expert Melissa Strauss looks at potential problems that could be impacting your magnolia.. If your magnolia tree is experiencing brown leaves without new growth, it's likely due to a variety of factors. These include frost damage, insufficient water, nutritional deficiency, disease, and pest infestations.
Magnolia trees are magnificent specimens, with glossy green leaves and an abundant display of flowers produced each spring. If the foliage on your magnolia tree is turning brown then it could be a completely natural part of the tree's life cycle, or it could be cause for concern.. If it does, the dead brown leaves should eventually fall off on their own, and you can monitor the tree for watering needs to reduce drought stress. Based on the extent of the damage pictured, though, our suspicion is that the tree will need replacement. Miri Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland.