Magnolia trees for useless gardener

Kim_kim

I have a long thin back garden & a medium front garden.

All I grow is grass and hedges, which I have a man in to cut. I am so UNgreen fingered :-(

I don’t even really like flowers and fussy gardens, but I do quite like flowering trees, ornamental trees, flowering shrubs and coloured shrubs.

I really like magnolia trees - the ones with the flowers that look like up turned tulips.

Google suggests I can just about plant now - if I get a move on!

I don’t even know if I’m putting them front and back or just one.

I want big ones, I’m not sure what the big varieties are. Can anyone advise?
Shall I put in the sunnier side of the garden?

Where do I buy them? How much are they likely to be?

I guess they need to be dug down deep? Do I need to get the garden man in?

Davesnave

Kim_kim wrote: »

Do I need to get the garden man in?

You describe yourself as 'useless,' not disabled, so the answer is probably 'No.' After all, this is supposed to be MSE and you are not new here.

The plant you buy is unlikely to be very large, because it's best to plant small. Of course, there are places where the well-heeled can get mature specimens added to their gardens with a digger, but once again this is MSE, so that's irrelevant.

Ideally, you'd get the plant from a specialist shrub nursery, but garden centres will be stocking them now, as are Lidl, though the latter probably have just one type @ about £7.50.

Regarding the varieties and where to put them, you would just Google like you might for anything else, then work outwards from a reputable source like this to examine different varieties:

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=599

Growing shrubs and trees isn't hard. Around me, most of them get on with life without any human intervention whatsoever and still look pretty good....better than a lot of gardens one sees every week on Rightmove anyway!

Kim_kim

Davesnave wrote: »

You describe yourself as 'useless,' not disabled, so the answer is probably 'No.' After all, this is supposed to be MSE and you are not new here.

The plant you buy is unlikely to be very large, because it's best to plant small. Of course, there are places where the well-heeled can get mature specimens added to their gardens with a digger, but once again this is MSE, so that's irrelevant.

Ideally, you'd get the plant from a specialist shrub nursery, but garden centres will be stocking them now, as are Lidl, though the latter probably have just one type @ about £7.50.

Regarding the varieties and where to put them, you would just Google like you might for anything else, then work outwards from a reputable source like this to examine different varieties:

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=599

Growing shrubs and trees isn't hard. Around me, most of them get on with life without any human intervention whatsoever and still look pretty good....better than a lot of gardens one sees every week on Rightmove anyway!

Thank you, I wasn’t sure how deep you had to dig - hence I wasn’t sure if I needed the garden man in.

I guess what I’m asking, is do they grow big by room to spread or variety? I want them to end up nice and tall.

Mojisola

Kim_kim wrote: »

Google suggests I can just about plant now - if I get a move on!.

I want big ones, I’m not sure what the big varieties are. Can anyone advise?

If you buy a plant in a pot, it can go in the ground at any time of year.

For varieties, look through a few websites (like this - https://www.jparkers.co.uk/shrubs/shrubs-by-variety/magnolias?msclkid=12704ad4365b199a900c164365b52ad3&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Search - Shrubs - NEW&utm_term=%2Bmagnolias&utm_content=Impr. Magnolias) and make a short list of the ones you like.

Farway

Kim_kim wrote: »

I guess what I’m asking, is do they grow big by room to spread or variety? I want them to end up nice and tall.

Catch Gardeners' World, this week on BBC, maybe on catch up now?

There was a bit about magnolias, they come in all sizes, some blooms literary as big as you head
To answer, depends on variety, be careful or you may get a 50 foot monster
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mw1h

Flowering tree? Why not think about maybe an apple tree, blossom & fruit

malebolge

Agree with what others have said. One thing though - you said you are useless - but are you patient? A magnolia tree can take 10-30 years to reach full glory. Mine has taken 20 years to become one of those lovely, full of blooms, big trees. If you are looking for something more 'instant', that needs minimal care, perhaps fast growing shrubs may be your answer. Buddleia grow quickly and take minimal time to look after. They have the added advantage of attracting butterflies and bees, too.

You sound as if you're not a gardener, but want an uncluttered space that looks pretty. (not meant as a criticism btw). Shrubs that give you colour at different times of the year, something like hebes, would fit the bill, with pethaps some cordylines. If you want the odd patch of flowers, you could have a few tubs dotted about. Fill them with compost, season long feed, and you can just buy garden ready plants to put in. I've done this for my daughter, who has a very busy lifestyle. Got some beautiful primroses for her atm, that I'll replace with summer flowering plants when they finish. I've taken out the ornamental cabbage & heathers that gave her winter colour. Hth

Davesnave

malebolge wrote: »

Are you patient? A magnolia tree can take 10-30 years to reach full glory. Mine has taken 20 years to become one of those lovely, full of blooms, big trees.

This is true, though people will get blooms faster by buying one of the hybrids or grafted plants.
Look at: http://www.junker.co.uk/magnolia48.htm

to see many of these.


And remember that the varieties that want to grow very large may be impressive, but they need careful pruning as they head towards maturity if the garden proves to be on the small side for them.

DigForVictory

No question magnolias can be glorious but an apple tree in blossom has its own charm as well, plus the fruit.
As for size, since you can get bush, cordon, maiden, half standard & standard apple trees you may end up reasonably happy with what you planted to find its grown upwards almost beyond recognition let alone a stepladder. (Says the short apple crunching enthusiast who has a half standard orchard & tall offspring.)

Whatever you plant, enjoy it!