"Japanese magnolia" is used for more than one kind, but if you think that is how big it will get (not very big for a magnolia) then it is not likely to affect the foundation at all unless it is poorly constructed. Plant the tree where it will look good.

well, those are the dimensions that the worked at the nursery gave me today and were on the tag - however after doing some research online it seems like it can get larger. Here is the specific variety that we have purchased:

Alexandrina

There is a link below of the information I found about the tree. They are grown all over the place in my area of the world and are gorgeous. We have space to move it out away from the house, I just need to know how far it should be. I was told we can keep it trimmed down to make it a more compact tree, or let it grow larger if we wish.

If anyone has any suggestions or information about this tree I would greatly appreciate! Thank you!

Here is a link that might be useful: information about Japanese Magnolia Alexandrina

'Alexandrina' is an old name used for a number of different saucer magnolias over the years - all definite trees in habit. If you are worried about the eventual size plant where you are comfortable having a small tree 15'-35' high and wide.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tree Heights PDF

This Magnolia can be grown as an espalier, that is: trained to grow flat against a wall so I do not think there is anything to worry about regarding root invasion. So take the eventual width and half it (5 feet) and this is your minimum distance from the house. Note also that the further away from the wall you plant it the more likely it is to grow evenly.

I would plan on it getting bigger--so whether or not root invasion is a problem,spread might be, so not too close to the house. This is a common issue of, you may move away before it would grow to be a problem for you, so do you put it closer so it looks "right" for 5 yrs when it will still be relatively small, or do you site it for mature height and save future homeowners a headache. In that sense, the root issue is the most important to understand and address (so won't do anything sinister to structure of home), and the latter issue has to do with accepting that landscape redress and renewal is inevitable to some extent, no matter what choices you make.

Also, you haven't given the landscape context--what design function is it serving--such as, balancing another element of the house or property, being viewed from an inside window, giving curb appeal, or whatever. So there might be a simplistic answer to "how far from the house" and yet that might not address the best place to put the tree.

ok well...I don't pretend to be a landscape designer. I'm just a happy first time home owner who has a desperate landscape and needs to do something to make it better. I love lush full beds, but don't want a fussy garden. We don't have the money to hire someone to do this for us so we will be doing it a little bit at a time as we have the funds. Generally right now my main goal is the tree's placement, make the bed, and purchasing the main plantings (bushes, etc). I can fill in with inexpensive annuals and such this year and grow some things from seeds. We will add the other plantings as we can. So, please don't tell me I suck after I post this. LOL It's just what I have been able to come up with using the knowledge and ideas I've gotten from online and in books.

Here is what the house looks like now:

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This is what I'm dreaming of - or something along the lines of it:

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First thoughts when seeing the pictures -
- I'm tempted to plunk a group of dwarf conifers near the corner of driveway/sidewalk - to balance the big pine behind the house.
- The magnolia looks OK where you've placed it, hope it's OK with your neighbor.
- I'd keep the plantings in front of the windows low, no more than knee-high.
- The climber support looks out of place - if I used it, I'd make it black, simple, and as tall as the windows. Also maybe narrower and asymmetrically placed.
Just to warn you - I'm not a landscaping pro, though I design other stuff.

On the photoshopping I can't tell real distances. I think the general placement of an ornamental tree there is good. You just need to measure actual distances from your foundation/roof and the neighbor's.

Over on the right like that it will bother the neighbor - plan on it getting much bigger than image shown. Looking at the shape of the house and coordinating with the trees behind it might be best in front of the middle of the house, where the closer corner sticks out. Or maybe put something else with some height there, in addition to the magnolia.

If you want to play to the street have the lawn come up to near the front of the house and then continue around to the back, passing the house by like a green river. Have mostly low shrubs directly in front of the house (below the windows) and bring the beds shown down the sides more and closer to the street, with the bed to the right longer and broader than the one on the left. Taller shrubs would be used in the wider parts of the beds than the plants shown in your picture, with shorter ones in the narrower parts - the existing scheme lacks significant height variation. The magnolia over on the right is a good place for a tall deciduous shrub but probably something smaller-growing than the magnolia, which could fill nearly the whole front yard in time should growing conditions permit. Here in this part of USDA 8 we have saucer magnolias 40' across.

Thank you everyone for your input and ideas. Bboy - I'm having a hard time envisioning what you are talking about with the "green river"

There are many Saucer Magnolia's in this area that seem to be pruned to be a smaller tree. There are some larger ones but I've never seen one 40 ft across. Even the largest oldest one's I've seen that have trunks like 3 ft wide (Seriously I'll have to go take a picture of that tree it's awesome!) aren't that wide. TALL yes, but 40 ft wide? not that I have seen. Of course, I'm sure it's possible but is it not also possible to prune it enough each year that it doesn't become that wide? Is this something that we can do to keep the tree in that location? The pine tree's in the backyard on the right hand side will be cut down at some point. That's down the road in our goals for the house.

Thanks for the questions. The reason I don't want to really put it dead middle is that I like asymmetry, yet balanced - and also it would have to pretty much be smack dab in the middle of the yard to be wide enough away from the house. I'm not usually fond of tree's smack dab in the middle of a yard in front of a house.

Thanks for all of your input and ideas. Hubby and I are talking things over and trying to decide what we will be doing.

In informal landscaping you want lawns that flow visually, like water.

Whacking deciduous magnolias back spoils them.

Middle as in middle of house as it appears in view shown, not middle of yard seen from above.

spoils them as in kills them or spoils them as in changes what they do naturally and changes the look to something you don't agree with?

It would be the middle of the house and middle of the yard because of how far away from the house I would need to plant it for the correct distance from house. smack dab in the middle of it all if I go that route. The house next to us has an extremely mature crepe myrtle that sits in a similar spot on their house as to where I'm contemplating putting the magnolia and it doesn't bother us. Our homes are all similar distances apart so I'm not sure that this would be a problem. But I understand the concern and am weighing options. I understand wanting it to flow which is why I worked in curves rather than square corners on the planting beds and such.

Find a smaller variety of magnolia is what I would do---even in your photoshopped arrangement, it is too close to the roofs of both houses.

They grow a lot larger than people realize they will, especially in climates they like! There are smaller varieties & you can also go with a different species med/tall shrub.

I would try not to plant something that will always have to be pruned back---is that what you want to spend your weekends doing as the years go by?

I manage property for a living, and although "foundation plantings" may be nice in concept, IMO they are not a good idea especially here in a temperate climate zone with abundant rainfall and moderate-severe winters. According to a friend who is a home inspector, all vegetation should be at least 3 feet (1 m) away from the house, which means that they should be planted farther away than that in accordance with their mature size.

In general, vegetation, clutter, sprinkler heads, organic debris, etc. should be removed from around the foundation of the house. Any vines, branches or limbs climbing up, touching or overhanging a house should be removed. Otherwise, these hold moisture, encourage the growth of mold and mildew, attract rodents and insect pests, and tear up siding and roofing shingles, all of which are VERY BAD for houses.

I have a few foundation beds and plant only bulbs and herbaceous perennials. This may look boring, but I've replaced too much rotten wood and cleaned too much dirty siding (etc.) to care. Let alone what will happen to the precious plantings when the house needs to painted or re-roofed.