Many small flowering trees help brighten our landscapes from late winter through the spring season. One of the more beautiful of our early spring-flowering trees is the Japanese magnolia.

The Japanese magnolia, or saucer magnolia, opens its fat, furry flower buds in February or March before the foliage emerges. Unlike the native Southern magnolia Magnolia grandiflora, it is deciduous and drops its leaves in winter. The flowers blooming on leafless branches are particularly noticeable.

The flowers are large and showy and come in a variety of colors, such as white, lavender-pink, rose-purple, dark reddish purple and light yellow. The brightest color is on the outside of the petals, while the inner surface tends to be creamy white. The flowers range in size from about 4 to 6 inches across, sometimes larger. The Japanese magnolias generally grow to be about 15 to 25 feet tall with a spread of 10 to 15 feet.

When the flowers are young, the petals are held fairly upright, giving the flowers a distinctively tulip-like appearance. As the flowers age, the petals tend to open more and lay down, creating a more saucer-shaped flower. The flowers have a spicy to musky fragrance.

The Latin name for the Japanese magnolia is Magnolia x soulangiana. The “x” in the middle of the name indicates that this is a hybrid rather than a true species. The Japanese magnolias we grow in our landscapes are the result of a cross between two species, Magnolia liliiflora (lily magnolia) and Magnolia denudata (white saucer or Yulan magnolia).

Now is a great time to plant Japanese magnolias if you would like to add one to your landscape. The weather is still cool and the hot weather of summer is still months away. That means it is possible to select a blooming tree at the nursery. This is important because a number of varieties are available with different flower colors and shapes.

January is a tough month for many of us. The weather is chilly, the return to routine after the holidays, trying to keep up with our new resolutions. And on top of that our landscaping is mostly dormant and waiting for the return of warmer weather. If you find yourself longing for spring it could be a great time to plan your landscaping projects

1. Envision your dream yard.
This is what I call the “fun stage” of planning. The sky is the limit here as you think through all of the things you’d like to see and accomplish with your landscaping changes. Is expanding your outdoor living a priority? Is landscape lighting high on your list of needs? Do you want to see lots of color attract butterflies to your yard? Are you envisioning a relaxing tropical oasis secluding you from the outside world? At this point we are not worried about practicality or other constraints; this is where I really encourage you to dream big!

2. Reality check.
A successful landscape is going to be beautiful and practical so we need to think about what really makes sense for your Gainesville yard. Things to consider in this stage of planning include climate and maintenance. A traditional English garden might be my dream, but how well suited is it to our climate and am I prepared to handle the amount of upkeep a project like that is going to need. It's also important to consider any irrigation changes that may need to be made.

3. Evaluate your space.
When planning your landscaping it’s especially important to keep in mind the full size of plants of trees later down the road. Will those plants that look just right now still look right when they have grown in? Is the number of shrubs and the distance going to be sufficient to create a beautiful hedge? And don’t forget to take into account the final size of any trees you include in your landscaping. Too many times I’ve met with a client who has had to take down beautiful trees simply because they were planted too close to existing structures.

4. Consider your budget.
Outlining a budget helps to prioritize landscaping projects and make sure that your most important goals are handled first. This can help you break your project down into manageable parts and maybe plan one project for spring and a second project later in the year.

With a little extra effort you will be well on your way to achieving the yard of your dreams. If you would like The Master’s Lawn Care to assist you with creating the yard you’ve been dreaming of we would love to meet with you for a landscaping consultation. Just give us a call at 352-378-5296 to schedule a time or submit your request online.