All trees drop litter. The problem with southern magnolia is that it drops parts in small amounts, continuously for months at a time - instead of all at once once or twice per year.

If you think this one is overbearing a paulownia would really be a bother - do not plant one of those.

Sunset WESTERN GARDEN BOOK has a table of suitable garden and patio trees in the plant selection guide near the front, you might want to check that out.

Remove the tree. Landscape planning was bad, and now what you are left to deal with is just a perfectly good tree being planted in the wrong place.

The reason the year round litter is so much of a bother is due to this tree having been planted so close to the driveway that it's canopy had to be raised.

If the Magnolia had been planted quite a ways farther to the left of where it is now, it could have been allowed to grow lower branches all the way down the trunk and the continual litter issue would have been significantly less of a problem.

Once you remove the tree though, you will be left with no shade for those windows until a better designed landscaping plan will have time to establish and grow large enough to once again shade your windows from the afternoon sun. That could mean 5 or more years before you once again get the kind of shade this tree has been providing for your windows.

Now it seems all you can do is remove the Magnolia, purchase and have installed sun rays blocking shade screens on the windows. Then wait a while and begin thinking about what it will take to install a good landscape design plan, which ultimately enhances the curb appeal of your house.

In the design you could plant a more substantial looking tree similar to the magnolia if you plant it far enough over to the left in your yard that its mature size will not end up blocking the house's front entry view. Then any trees you plant more toward the middle of the yard or closer to the driveway should be smaller, sometimes narrower, and more ornamental; with a nice dappled shade. Just keep in mind that you need to make certain that none of your new trees or shrubs are planted where they can end up blocking the view of the house's entrance, or dropping litter on the driveway, or grow the kind of roots that could damage the driveway or the walk leading up to your front door.

A couple of things.

The tree was actually planted when the house was built in 1979. The house was a model. I guess we could have removed it at the time,

Also, it is not viewable in the picture, but the tree is in a strip that is the same level as the driveway, but 5 feet to the left of the tree is the lawn which is too feet higher. The lawn is kept at bay with a small retaining wall. So not much room for any tree to the left. It was designed this way because we live on a hill.

Also, the tree would actually have branches and leaves closer to the trunk, but every tree service we have had out has recommended trimming all foliage except near the end of each branch. I am assuming now that this was poor advice.

After doing some research on possible replacement trees, we will probably just keep this tree. This seems to be mainly a summer problem, so I wonder if it is somehow water related. The area is watered 2-times a week by sprinklers, but perhaps the driveway is keeping many of the roots from having access to this water?

Nice truck!

Magnolias aren't necessarily messier than any other tree (except maybe some conifers with small needles), they just drop stuff at a different time of year than deciduous trees. Believe me, my oaks, tulip poplars, and hickory trees were not only dropping leaves, but nuts, acorns, spent flowers, and constant small twigs. Flowers in early spring, nuts/acorns over the summer, along with twigs that the squirrels would break off, and then massive leaves in the Fall. It seemed neverending!! We were so happy to have them removed!!

So, pick your poison. If you want a tree for shade, you're going to have at least some debris.

Out here on the East Coast, our broad-leaved evergreens (hollies, magnolias, etc) usually drop leaves in Spring or early summer.

Thanks.

Good point. I think it just seemed to be an issue since this tree makes its mess when the rest of the yard looks its best. But I guess we can't have it all.

Yes, you are correct. You unfortunately can't have it all. Southern Magnolias tend to drop their leaves for 2 different reasons. The biggest reason is because they are in active growth and dropping older leaves, which can happen for a longer period out in California than in a lot of other places. The 2nd reason is because they are going into dormancy in the fall and they drop a few older or damaged leaves. This 2nd reason usually produces far less leaf drop than the 1st.

Personally the leaf drop from Southern Magnolias doesn't bother me because the leaves usually turn a nice butter yellow and look almost plastic and fake when they drop, which I think looks nice. Also, when they get to be too much, I just blow them into an area on the lawn and go over them with my mower with a mulch blade and they all disappear rather quickly.