Table of Contents
Plant in well-drained, acidic soil and in full sun or partial shade. Make sure the tree has plenty of room to grow to its full size. Mulch creating a 3-4 inch layer at base but leave room at the trunk of the tree. Water regularly for the first few years until your magnolia is established.
How deep do you plant a Little Gem Magnolia?
The cold hardy Magnolia cultivar flowers heavily for a longer period when grown in warmer regions. It has white, medium-sized flowers that grow as large as 4 to 6 inches. The Magnolia “Little Gem” tree should be planted on soil with pH 5.6 to 6.5 and should be spaced between 8 feet to 12 feet between each other.
How long does it take for a Little Gem magnolia tree to grow?
This tree grows at a slow rate, with height increases of less than 12″ per year.
How do you plant a magnolia tree in the ground?
Mix plenty of organic compost into the surrounding soil. Fill the planting hole halfway up with soil, making sure the tree is straight. Fill the half-filled hole with water, let it drain, then fill fully with soil, being sure to leave that top root exposed. Cover with a few inches of mulch.
How close to a house can you plant a Little Gem Magnolia?
Plant spacing Come out at least 5 feet or more from the house. If you’re planting a row of dwarf magnolias, place them 6 feet apartor, for a privacy screen, 4 feet apart is fine. For planting along a fence, position the tree about 4 feet out.
How often should I water my Little Gem Magnolia?
Little Gem Magnolia Care The little gem is not overly drought tolerant and will require a good amount of moist soil. Especially in its first year of growth, it will require water as often as 3 to 4 times per week. Thereafter, you can cut back to once or twice a week and half of that in winter.
How do you take care of a little gem magnolia tree?
Plant in well-drained, acidic soil and in full sun or partial shade. Make sure the tree has plenty of room to grow to its full size. Mulch creating a 3-4 inch layer at base but leave room at the trunk of the tree. Water regularly for the first few years until your magnolia is established.
How do you make magnolia little gem grow faster?
Under the Tree Mulching under a magnolia tree can spur it to grow quickly by keeping the roots cool and moist during hot summer months. For best results, spread straw, shredded bark or another organic mulch in spring, extending the mulched zone a foot or two past the tree’s root zone; renew the mulch as it breaks down.
Does Little Gem Magnolia drop leaves?
Foliage of ‘Little Gem’ Southern Magnolia. The five to 8-inch-long, leathery, oblong, shiny leaves are shed as new foliage emerges in the spring. The large, slowly-decomposing leaves drop on the sidewalk or patio and are considered by some people to be messy or a nuisance to clean up.
Do magnolia trees require a lot of water?
Watering Magnolias Whatever their size, magnolias are low-maintenance plants that don’t require frequent watering. In general, you should water magnolia trees once a week during the first two growing seasons and twice a month in subsequent years.
Where should you not plant a magnolia tree?
Plant magnolia trees far enough away to prevent them from overhanging your house, but avoid planting them too close to your property easement in the front of the house so that drivers can have a direct line of sight.
Where should a magnolia tree be planted?
Magnolias prefer a spot in the garden that receives full sun to light shade. That said, if you live in a particularly warm or dry climate, your magnolia might benefit from a location shaded from the hot afternoon sun.
Are Little Gem magnolia roots invasive?
The roots of Little Gem Magnolia have a characteristic of wide-spreading, stretching from trunk to a span of four times the umbrella diameter but they’re non-invasive.
Do magnolia trees need to be planted in pairs?
Magnolias are evergreen and grow up to 80 feet tall with a crown spreading 30 to 40 feet. You do not need to have a separate tree with male flowers in order for a magnolia to blossom.
How do you fertilize a little gem magnolia tree?
Fertilize the dwarf magnolia beginning in its third growing season. Use 1 cup of a 10-10-10 fertilizer around the trunk in March, May and July. Increase the amount of fertilizer by 1 cup each year for four years, and apply it from the edge of the canopy to six feet beyond the canopy.
What is the best fertilizer for magnolia trees?
Most magnolia tree varieties grow best when they received fertilizers to have an ample amount of nitrogen. This means that fertilizers with an NPK ratio of 20-5-10 or 12-4-8 are most ideal for the tree. That being said, magnolia trees can also benefit from all-purpose fertilizers as well.
Can you overwater magnolias?
Do not be afraid to overwater at planting, as this will help the roots establish. While magnolias do well in areas where moisture applications range in extremes from too dry to too wet, any plant’s roots can drown if it’s constantly kept in water.
Do magnolia trees like coffee grounds?
Magnolia trees (Magnolia spp.), generally, are among the plants that prefer a soil pH that is acidic. That is the reason why some folks who have a soil that is too alkaline are attracted to the idea of sprinkling coffee grounds on the earth around their magnolia trees.
