Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design Re: Magnolia Little Gem 2Jan 27, 2010 6:43 am Extreme heat and wind will do that. New leaves grow, it's not a big deal. Re: Magnolia Little Gem 3Jan 27, 2010 10:04 am As kek mentioned, hardly a concern. Follow my soil prep info and the better ways to care for your landscape now and in the future and those Magnolias will look sensational. It is really common to see the poor old Magnolia cop a flogging early on in it's years in the summers. After 2 or 3 they come good and will only occasionally have the odd yuck leaf. With flowers like those, it's very tough to offer a better option when they smell so very good If you have ever seen established ones, they really are something to behold Re: Magnolia Little Gem 4Jan 27, 2010 10:35 am Thanks Kek and Homeone. You've got me excited about my selection. Homeone, where do I view the soil prep information you are referring to? Also, given my budget is not huge but not skimpy either, what size Magnolia would you advise I put in? I have a wide range of plants to plant eg Georgia blue veronica,Korean box, Cerastium tomentosa, Thuja Smargrd, but the landscaper did not indicate what size I should put in so they all grow together at the same pace etc. Re: Magnolia Little Gem 5Jan 27, 2010 12:01 pm They won't grow at the same pace because they are different plants with different growth speeds. Eg, the Thujas are most commonly found in 175mm and 200mm pot sizes. Everything goes on pot size and not plant size The Korean box is no doubt going to be used for a hedge so buy in tubes to get cost down. you'll be poor buying a hedge in 175mm pots For trees, the very best size is the 25-45ltr sizes. They offer the best value for money. The thought that buying a tree smaller is does not ring true and studies are finding the above sizes to be the best for long term root health. This is only when the trees are grown well by the wholesale nurseries. Magnolias are commonly bought in 200mm pots and 35-45ltr pots. Then the size jumps to the 100ltr and 200ltr sizes and cost a motza but you'll have an instant tree. The size of the Magnolia will be smaller compared to other trees in these sizes because they grow slow and so often cost a little more but as I mentioned, well worth it Cerastiums you'll get in 140mm pots or tubes easy as. I'd get 'em in tubes, they grow fast enough Veronicas you'll find in 100mm pots easy as. It's a pitty they haven't used more Australian and SA native plants in the design. These can be some of the most impressive in a garden with regular clipping just as you would any other common exotic plant. The best landscapes I see now are designed with more aussie plants. It's now rare to see a good design without them except at the high end of course. Re: Magnolia Little Gem 6Jan 27, 2010 12:13 pm Fu Manchu If you have ever seen established ones, they really are something to behold we have a large established one (Sydney) and whilst we have been here (last 2 yrs) it has not fully flowered. Plenty of buds form and the odd one turns into a flower. We have possums, that visit the tree but they can't do that amount of damage, can they? Re: Magnolia Little Gem 7Jan 27, 2010 12:32 pm The buds of new growth can sometimes be mistaken for flower buds. However if it hasn't flowered much it maybe due to excess absorption of Nitrogen. In those cases you'll get a more foliage and less flower. If you have mulched, try greener mulches/ fresh tree mulch. In winter use a straw mulch and then in summer cover heavier with green mulches. Avoid the use of N.P.K. based fertilisers. Go with some slow release for fruit and flower, molasses, seasol. Try not to use too much manures around it, they have a bit of nitrogen in them, but when well rotted will help feed the soil so that is a catch 22 almost And yes, the Possums can be that busy Re: Magnolia Little Gem 8Jan 27, 2010 2:15 pm Thanks Fu. Again a couple of months ago I got rid off all the weeds around the base and this time put straw covering down (I am amazed I did something right!) There is not much soil access around the base as the surrounding is covered with concrete, however I will follow the rest of you advice and hopefully have more joy this year. Re: Magnolia Little Gem 9Jan 27, 2010 3:39 pm It isn't so much about right and wrong in gardening. It is both an art and a science. However there are methods that yield better results than others There are better ways we can all be doing things so we reduce our impact on the environment With your Magnolia in a hole surrounded by concrete may have something to do with it also That is not a favourable circumstance for a plant Re: Magnolia Little Gem 10Jan 27, 2010 8:34 pm Hi Fu Manchu. You are also a little gem. As you have provided detailed advice on the examples I gave I may as well give you the rest of the plant list and if you don't mind doing the same for these plants I'll have a summary of all the pot sizes I should buy. I'll understand if you just tell me to go jump. Virbinium suspensum or tinus Muraya paniculata Pittosporum little shorty Nandina domestica 'dwarf' Convulvus cneorum Ajuga Catlins Giant Brachysome compacta Phormium tenax Red Lirope Samantha or evergreen giant Dwarf blue and white agapanthus Gardenia Four Seasons Blue Lagoon Rosemary White English Lavender Mono grass. Thanks irene More Garden ideas. 11Jan 27, 2010 10:16 pm I have seen some Purple Fountain Grass around the suburbs.. Gosh I love this. I would love to plant some of this. A list of succulents/aloe and how to shop for a suitable pot and planting directions would be helpful for me. I have seen this at few, Perth Display homes. Especially in Landsdale and South Yunderup. Metal strips for the garden edging can this be bought at garden centres, is there a product name? Re: Magnolia Little Gem 12Jan 27, 2010 10:59 pm wow that is lots of info!!!!! A bit of an allsort bag there for design combo Not much waterwise or fertiliser wise choices either. Give the Liriopes a miss and use Patersonias instead. Much nicer, won't become weedy. Murrayas are a good choice unless you are in SEQ or Northern NSW. They will need good soils to do really well. They are a fav of mine even though they aren't waterwise. Best to get 140mm or 200mm pots. clip back when planting. Pittos in 140's Vibernum tinus in 140's, it looks better than suspensum. Odouratisima is a better choice than suspensum too 200mm is the most common size you find them in. clip when planting them. Nandinas used in mass will do a good show. 140's is the best size. Convovulous cneorum will look good and are waterwise 100mm or 140mm pots. Any Agugas will sub for the one listed, just get in a 100mm or 140mm. Brachysome compacta any Brachycombes will do, the Swan River daisies are nice. 100mm or 140mm Phormium tenax Red, not that taken on these because they bleach and burn in the summers when planted sparsely. 200mm is the most likely size to get them in and sometimes a 140mm Lirope Samantha or evergreen giant, boo to these. Spent a whole day nearly the other day digging these weedy things out of a garden. I bet they still come back Dwarf blue and white agapanthus, can be weedy in some parts of Australia. look good when flowering then like crap after that. they recover over winter and spring to get all lush again, then flower and look yuck for a bit. 140mm. Gardenia Four Seasons, great plants, smell nice but hardly waterwise or fertiliserwise. hard work too to keep looking good. Very popular, glossy leaves, so great foliage. Blue Lagoon Rosemary, yuck-o! These are rangy messy plants. Get a Rosemary Tuscan Blue or Bennedons blue instead. All these need lots of space lots. 175mm is the better size for these. mainly due to root development. White English Lavender, tough, clip lots and lots and lots to keep looking good. 100mm, 140mm and 175mm pots. Mondo grass. tubes, cheap over East but not here in the West. Re: More Garden ideas. 13Jan 27, 2010 11:07 pm perthhomelover I have seen some Purple Fountain Grass around the suburbs.. Gosh I love this. I would love to plant some of this. A list of succulents/aloe and how to shop for a suitable pot and planting directions would be helpful for me. I have seen this at few, Perth Display homes. Especially in Landsdale and South Yunderup. Metal strips for the garden edging can this be bought at garden centres, is there a product name? Glad you love them, a bloke I know introduced these newer species from overseas when they were an emerging trend there. he knew they'd take off here and they have after a few years Be careful as to what species you buy There are 3 species and they all look the same whern you buy them. Look at the tag for this in the fancy Latin writing. Buy the ones that are Pennisetum advena rubrum. There's plenty about just now. Cut back very low when winter arrives and sets in Like have a few inches or less left above the soil. Otherwise they look awful the following summer. Also best to check the label especially if you are near a National Park. Just pick the one ablove Forget it if it says something else. As for the silver edging. WOTAM waste of time and money. The turfs used here in the West and the sandy soils we have will mean the only thing you'll achieve is that it might look ok for the first few weeks and you'll annoy all hell out of your lawn mowing contractor totally impractical. Spend that money on some certified organic soil instead http://www.gardenersdirect.com.au/comme ... y=+++GO!++ or http://www.dsatco.com/PiggypostBulkBag/ ... roductName They will make your garden look a billion times better than a bit of metal Re: Magnolia Little Gem 14Jan 27, 2010 11:12 pm Fu Manchu Lirope Samantha or evergreen giant, boo to these. Spent a whole day nearly the other day digging these weedy things out of a garden. I bet they still come back Of all the things I planted in the past year my Liriope Samantha's are doing the best after this terrible heat. I was going to plant more! Do you think they would have the same weedy tendencies in Canberra's climate with the frosts and all? I thought harsher winters can keep some plants in check which in milder climates are problematic? Re: Magnolia Little Gem 17Jan 27, 2010 11:44 pm Fu Manchu I'll buy you a mattock and you can find out later Re: Magnolia Little Gem 19Jan 28, 2010 12:44 am Hi Fu Manchu Okay nearly done. Your advice is fabulous and you ready know your plants. Can you provide alternatives for the gardenias ( there are 11 listed as feature plants near a path.) (I'm concerned about the work required to keep them looking good. Soil is mostly light clay but I intend preparing the soil before I put in the plants.) and the Phormium Tenax Red? Also would a 1 metre high Magnolia Little Gem be about the right size to plant or should I plant a bigger one. ( I will check out the pot sizes you described but not sure right now what size the plants will be in the pots you suggested so I'm just asking for a bit of an indication.) I know I could go really big but many of the other plants will be relatively small by comparison if I do so. Also......haven't worked out where I find your info on soil preparation. (Not too computer smart!) It's great being able to remain anonymous!! Re: Magnolia Little Gem 20Jan 30, 2010 1:53 am We planted a row of Little Gems along our south facing back fence which receives sun for much of the day. We built up the garden bed with raised sleepers (2 high) and backfilled with good soil and mulch. They are doing well and have grown a good 6 inches in the 12 months since planting. They were attacked by a bug but DH used an organic bug spray and they recovered. One of them has recently developed a white spot on the leaves and stem which is no doubt another type of bug. All up we've had no casualties (9 of them in total) and we purchased them 1 mtre high. Try a good garden supplier because it makes a difference we found. 8 6156 |