Magnolia rescue !?

GreenNovice2

Wonder if anyone has any tips or suggestions please? Several years ago I bought a young magnolia that was planted in an enormous container. It did well for a couple of years then seemed to die off. This coincided with us having to move out of our home after major water damage. After 2+years we’ve moved back and have been clearing the garden, including emptying this big barrel, which by now, as well as, the magnolia remains, was clogged with grass and a small bramble shoot. Breaking up the soil I found to my amazement the Magnolia seems to have two small shoots with buds on sprouting from the stem, as in my photo. Now I’m not sure what to do with it? Put it back into the barrel with some fresh soil and if so feed to? Should I loosen the roots etc.....? As a novice gardener I would be grateful for any ideas or tips to save this Magnolia. 

K67

I'm sure you are delighted to be back home after 2 years. 
If you want to keep it I would repot just to check that it's the same plant but I don't think it's ever going to become a shapely tree so it depends on you. Bin or not?

GreenNovice2

K67 said:

I'm sure you are delighted to be back home after 2 years. 
If you want to keep it I would repot just to check that it's the same plant but I don't think it's ever going to become a shapely tree so it depends on you. Bin or not?

Thanks for the answer K67. Decided to keep it repotted and see what happens, even if not shapely I have a bit of an attachment to it. Mind you the rest of the garden has become a bit the same - clear the weeds and see what happens! Thanks again👍🏻