How Close Can I Plant a Little Gem Magnolia Tree Near My House?

Spacing Requirements

• Though Little Gem magnolias are much smaller than standard Magnolia grandiflora cultivars, their roots can still cause problems if planted too close to your house. A good rule of thumb is to leave a space of at least half the distance of the tree's mature height between the tree and the house, walkway or boundary. Little Gem magnolia trees grow to an average height of 20 to 25 feet, so plant the tree a minimum of 10 feet away from the house to avoid damage to the foundation.

Sunlight and Soil Requirements

• In addition to spacing, you must also take sunlight and soil requirements into account when selecting a planting site for a Little Gem magnolia tree. Evergreen magnolias need full sun exposure to produce healthy new growth and their characteristic white blossoms; look for a site that gets direct sunlight for six or more hours per day. They also prefer nutrient rich, consistently moist soil with good drainage. Till four parts peat moss, three parts compost, one part coarse bark pieces and one part perlite into the soil to a depth of 10 to 12 inches if necessary to improve the soil's nutrition and drainage.

Planting

• Proper planting practices help to ensure the long-term health of your magnolia tree. The planting hole for a Little Gem magnolia should be twice the width of its nursery container to give the roots plenty of room to spread. Position the tree as desired and return the displaced soil to the hole. Avoid planting the tree deeper than it grew in its nursery container as this may cause its crown or roots to rot.

Little Gem Magnolia Care

• Little Gem magnolias appreciate evenly moistened soil, so provide the tree with up to 1 inch of water per week to prevent the soil from completely drying out. Top the surface of the soil around the magnolia with 3 to 4 inches of organic mulch to help hold in moisture and suppress the growth of weeds. Early spring is the ideal time to fertilize a Little Gem magnolia; apply a single application of a specifically formulated flowering evergreen fertilizer before new growth begins.