Dwarf Magnolias look like they are dying

[Travis Llewellyn]

We have 9 dwarf magnolias in our backyard, they have been there for approx 2 years now and have been growing well.
I think that the weather over the winter and then the last month of freezing then warm may have done something to our trees.
3 of them look good but the other 6 look like they are dead.
I have included pictures.
If anyone can tell by the picture what is happening please help .

I don't think it is over watering, since there is a tree right next to the ones that are looking dead.

Thank you all for looking.

 

[Chuck]

Scratch the bark on some of the limbs. If there is no greenish color that limb is dead. It looks as if the fence gave some protection as the tree in the corner is basically unscathed while the other two are progressively worse.

 

[roadrunner]

I've never had dwarf magnolias, but I did have a large Southern Magnolia and the cold (20 degrees -- lows, not highs) never harmed it, didn't even kill the leaves. What hardiness zone are you in and how cold is cold?

 

[Travis Llewellyn]

We are in Oklahoma not sure on hardiness zone.
And the cold was only about 15 for a low but it got warm and toenail cold and warm again.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

just looked them up, they are zones 7 to 9. not sure what your zone is. I have two Star Magnolias , those are small, but keep coming back every year. think they are zones 4 or 5 to 9.

OK, looked it up, you are -----The state is divided into zones according to 10-degree increments. Oklahoma includes zones 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b and a small pocket of 8a in the southeastern part of the state. Knowing which zone you reside in is useful information for both novice and experienced gardener

For me, it would be risky to put anything in greater than a 6 zone. I would only position higher next to the house so that the heat from the house keeps the roots warm. but still, would not bother with it, unless it was so special something. sorry