Herself’s Houston Garden

It’s getting harder and harder to single out plants in photos here. But I guess that is a good thing? This was planted about a year ago and it has doubled or more its height and filled out quite nicely.

I wish I had several more, but with city lots one must pick and choose plants.

This tree bloomed a little last year, more this year and in time should start to bloom through out the summer.

Southern magnolia should reach about 60′ tall and 30′ across. We are at the southern edge of where it will grow, so that may stunt its size some.

Some people remove the lower branches, some leave them on. I have not yet decided. When removing lower branches from a tree wait till they reach about 1″ in diameter. It is better for the trunk and overall growth.

Growth is slow when the tree is first planted and picks up as the tree settles in.

It is an evergreen. And likes regular feedings of nitrogen and iron. I give everything iron about once a year year.

Watch for scale, one dose of orange oil takes care of it for me.

This tree grows in full sun to part shade, this one receives full sun all afternoon. It is drought tolerant but prefers a moist, slightly acidic soil. My alkaline clay seems to suit this one.

Once is it grows it will shade out everything around and underneath it.