Should I buy a Magnolia?

Hi all, I'm looking at putting something in the border/corner where I have just had the many conifers removed from. As you can see from the picture there is a corner space. I'd like something that will just obscure next doors bins give a little privacy and that I can hopefully prune to keep around 4 to 5 feet max that's not going to end up huge. I'm being drawn to maybe a Magnolia or something similar. I have never had one before but admire them in other garden's. The border is in full sun south facing in well drained alkaline soil. I'd appreciate your advice or recommendations. Upon looking at Magnolia on the internet they seem to be pretty reasonable price wise or is this for good reason Thanks in advance.

 

You could try one of the smaller kinds, not sure that a magnolia would like regular pruning, but once in a while is ok.

 

Magnolia Susan is a good one. It gets to about the height you want fairly quickly, flowers as a young plant and may be pruned gently after flowering to keep it at the desired height.

 

Great thanks @pete

Thank you @Palustris I'm going to have a look now.

Would you recommend bare root or pot? I've always been confused between the two.

 

It would have to be in a pot at this time of the year.

 

Ha shows what I know @pete thank you.

 

The only thing you need to do with a pot grown one is tease out the roots a little before planting.

 

Mine gets regular pruning and it's happy, but I'm pruning for shape, opening up airflow and avoiding branches crossing. It's almost higher than my bungalow now though so it's going to need some altitude adjustment soon, but otherwise not.

Which is a long way of saying you want one that naturally won't get that big.

 

Oh @Graham B I'm no good up a ladder and only being 5ft that might be a problem

To be honest I might have to rethink. After reading up a lot in the past few hours about mainly Magnolias in the little girl series it's suggesting they are not keen on wind or late frost. It is a little wind trap where I am and being in the North late frost are regular so as much as I wanted to order them all.....(they are beautiful) I'm wondering if I may have to rethink what to put there. so confused.

 

Hi @Jasmine star
I bought my first Magnolia earlier this year; about £12.00 from our local B & M store
Planted it in a raised border and it is growing well, will soon require pruning to keep it under control
MAGnolia
John

 

I'm near Cambridge but originally from Lancashire. It's at least a couple of degrees warmer around here on average, although we do still get some decent frosts.

For something somewhat similar, how about a philadelphus? They don't get too large, and you've got the large white flowers. You've also got lovely scent as well.

 

I have a couple of magnolia in the garden growing for a few years now and they have yet to put on a good display of flowers. I'm not sure if it is the wind or the frost which the garden is prone to more than other places being on the north side of a hill but the flowers get a bit ragged looking fairly soon after they are produced. If it is early flowers you are looking for the amelanchier(June berry) might be an option. It seems a bit more robust than the magnolia and when the flowers are finished it produces some bright coloured berries in the summer and the leaves have some interesting colours in autumn and when newly produced.

Would something evergreen like viburnum tinus, photinia red robin or laurel be worth considering if it is just to block the view of the bins?

 

Thank you @Graham B I will have a look at Philadelphus tomorrow. I never thought of one of those. There was a really small one in the garden of my previous house (rented) but It never seemed to do anything much so i never took much notice. It got the odd flowers which was nice. Probably in the wrong place.

@Macraignil that's what I'm thinking. I'm not sure I'll get the best from a Magnolia after reading about them today. Thanks so much for your suggestions. I will have a look into them tomorrow I'm thinking I may be able to make quite a nice border out of the plants suggested so far.

 

Magnolia is my total yearning! But no chance out here. Excellent advice here.

 

Our previous garden had frost every month except August. It was also prone to a devastating East Wind in April. All 15 of our Magnolias, survived and flowered well.
Philadelphus are good as long as you keep up the correct pruning regime.
Have a think about Lilac, except that they do tend to be a bit boring out of flower.
Some of the Viburnums make good sized shrubs and there are some very strongly scented ones of those.