Can this magnolia be rescued?

[SaveThisMagnolia]

Neighbour ripped it out and left it without any soil on the rootball. It's currently rehydrating in the bin. Has it got a chance do you reckon? Would pruning help it survive or would that just be an extra shock? It's too beautiful to die!!

@MereDintofPandiculation
@yamadori

She's taken an awful lot of the roots! I think the odds are against it. But if you do try, consider cutting back a lot (half or more) of the top growth, so the few roots that are left have a better chance of supporting the top growth. On the other hand, magnolias don't always take kindly to heavy pruning.

The logical thing to do would be to buy yourself one like it. But I know logic doesn't come into it when you're trying to rescue plants.

No harm trying pot it up and a bit of TLC. I would wait and see where it starts to show new growth and cut back accordingly

Thanks both of you for the replies, I'll give it a go!

No advice, just well wishes! Magnolias are beautiful, I can’t believe someone ripped out one that big!

It's going to struggle; definitely need to cut it right right back - I would say more than half. In which case it may look pretty odd if it does survive. I'd put it in a pot in a quiet corner and not be too hopeful.

Thanks both of you. It's not that I need it in the garden, but like you @SBAM I just feel it is so wrong to rip out a lovely established little tree and let it die