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We bought our house last May. There is a tree that concerns me greatly because it is only about 6 foot from the house in a raised rock bed garden....not sure how else to describe it...The garden is level with the top story side of the house and front yard, but the rock wall gets higher as it moves around to the back where there is a walk out basement and garage. These are just large rocks piled up, not an actual wall. Anyway, the tree is only about four foot from the rocks. Can someone help me identify this tree? I need to know what kind of root system it has, or will have. I don't want a root system that will damage the rock wall or the house. It has a really pretty flower on it so I'm hoping the picture will identify it. There's only one flower, and almost no leaves right now....I think I may have pruned too heavily last year. mystery tree Thanks for the help!
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looks like a tulip magnolia from the bloom. i've never pruned one. i've always just let them grow!
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From: Effingham County, GA USA Z 8b | Registered: Aug 2002
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I'm in Zone 5...I didn't think Magnolias could survive our winters, but I'll look it up.
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Uh-oh....I think you're right! That is what I have. It's very pretty but I really need to find root system info because they don't look like they stay small! What were they thinking?
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6 ft from the house would be ok. they don't usually get much over 15 ft, and maybe 10 ft across. i had one in a pot for about 15 years. never got more than 4 ft.
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From: Effingham County, GA USA Z 8b | Registered: Aug 2002
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I'm concerned with it only being about 4 foot from the rocks though. Also, If it reaches that height I won't be able to have a cut flower garden in that area because it will be too shaded.....Unless I could keep it prunned to a short height. hmmmmm....
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I'm in z5 too. Theres lots of magnolias here. I know of a star (?) magnolia thats right next to a building. Been there for years & years. Never caused any damage to the building. The tulip mags seem to grow very slowly here. Why did you prune it last year? I'm not sure if they bloom om old growth.
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From: Phoenicia, NY | Registered: Apr 2006
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Have one of those beauties, too, at our new house.
This one is probably 100+ years old, and they will get HUGE! - but you've probably got a long time before you need to worry.
bbbbbbbbb Sandy R.
From: SW Michigan | Registered: Aug 2005
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Thanks for all the help and info.....I've decided to leave it where it is. I just can't see trying to move it or kill it. Everything I've read, and from what you've said....they grow very slow. If it ever does become a problem; I'll deal with it then. As far as why I pruned it last year... For the same reason I will continue to prune it every year: I do not want it to reach full size. It sits in my soon to be cut flower garden. I saw some beautiful tulip magnolias, on the net, that have been pruned to keep them small and have a lovely canopy full of flowers. I think I'm going to try to keep this one no more than 6 foot in height and no more than 4 foot wide...We'll see how it goes. I have to do some more reading on the best times, and ways, to prune so that I won't hinder flower production.
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magnolia. they hate to be pruned; they respond very badly to it. If you don't want it large, I'd move it to where it won't be bothered and plant something smaller there. Trying to prune a plant that doesn't like to be pruned will only result in an eyesore.
Celebrating 10 years of helping your gardens grow!
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