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Would you put a tree in this patio situation? I was thinking magnolia.

a1154a1154 Posts: 1,108
in Plants
Our new build is going to have patio doors opening onto a slightly sunken patio, currently 14m x 5m. S/W facing. I was planning a low hedge round it too, to increase the feeling of privacy. 
I don’t need a tree in it because the low roof will shade part of it, but would you put a tree in? In the ground or build a substantial raised bed? 
I’d love a magnolia, but I’ve only ever had one, and it didn’t go brilliantly. I planted it on a very dry south facing slope in alkaline soil! I thought it had croaked, but it surprised me by still being (only just) alive a few years later. I potted it up, and it’s now at my new plot in a semi woodland situation, and doing much better. 
I think cherry blossom would work too, but I’m also thinking that everything that comes off the tree will have to be swept up. 

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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Have you got a photo? I'm not sure what you mean by a low roof - do you mean the house?  No reason why it can't go in the ground. The plot is certainly plenty big enough.

    Where are you intending putting it in the plot - is it  just for decoration ?
    That will make a difference to suggestions too.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • a1154a1154 Posts: 1,108
    No photo FG it’s all just plans at the mo. 
    Yes the house roof overhangs the patio for sun and rain screening. I don’t think it can go  dead centre because of the overhang, but it can go central to the 14m wall/retainer. I’ve got a feeling I’m not explaining this well! 
    Yes purely for decoration. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You seem to have plenty of room, so just play around with ideas for the positioning. 
    Sometimes a central location looks wrong IMO, but it also depends on what you're doing with the rest of the space. 
    Lots of small trees would suit anyway  :)
    If you can't do a pic, you could maybe do a basic sketch and put it on here. Easier to see what you're meaning. I'm slightly confused by the 'central to the 14m wall/retainer' description too!
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Magnolias need an acidic soil so check your soil before planting it.   They're not ideal for growing in pots as most get too big and need more root space than a pot can provide.  maybe the one you've rescued can go in the soil away from the rain shadow of the house and roof.  Meanwhile, try top dressing it with ericaceous John Innes compost and feed it occasionally with a liquid feed for ericaceous plants.  Use rain water, not hard tap water.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • mikeymustardmikeymustard Posts: 495
    Magnolia looks magnificent for a week per year - if you're lucky.  Just saying....🙂
  • a1154a1154 Posts: 1,108
    Hmm. It’s a bit the same with cherry blossom, plus a lot will end up on the stone patio. 

    The poorly one is planted out in some woodland Obelixx. Sorry should have made it clearer, that one is now staying where it is as it’s doing ok. 
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    A magnolia would hate to be in full sun facing South/ South West. They need ericaceous soil, plenty of moisture and partial shade to flourish. They are trees, not shrubs so can grow to a huge height and spread when happy so are not ideal candidates for growing in containers. They tend to flower early in the year so often suffer from frost, wind scorch on the flowers. They hate being pruned and can create deep shade when mature so not a good idea to plant near the house.
  • a1154a1154 Posts: 1,108
    Yes the sun exposure was something I was worried about, thanks JG. I wasn’t thinking of a container. 
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    A magnolia stellata might work, not as big as other magnolia. I have one in clay alkaline soil, facing south/south west, looks fabulous right now and obviously hasn't read the book!
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    In my last garden I had a magnolia stellata planted into a circular bed within the patio (we built the patio from scratch so I had a couple of planting holes built in).  It was south facing and grew into a beautiful little tree.  We were on clay there (though obviously I improved the soil in the planting holes in the patio).

    Last autumn I planted another magnolia stellata in this garden - on sand.  Seems happy - is beginning to flower now.  Yes, it will only flower for a short time but my last one gave height and structure to all of the pots I then had under it on the patio and this one is on the edge of my 'woodland' bed (grandiose term for a very small border!) and currently has lots of white pulsatilla under it.  The tree itself is still a small shrub so the pulsatilla flowers and the stellata flowers are quite near each other!  In time it will stand sentinel over the little path to the compost bin in the corner.
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
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