Where to plant a mango tree | Easy guide for your yard

Plant your mango tree in a full sun position away from buildings. Mango trees will grow best in tropical, subtropical, and warmer regions that have mild winters. Plant mango trees in a position with improved soil with space away from other plants.

This article will explore where to plant your new mango tree and how to give it the best start to grow in to a strong productive tree.

Find out the best weather conditions, best soil conditions, sunlight, space and how close to buildings.

Best weather conditions for a mango tree

Mango trees will grow best in climates with warm, humid summers, summer rain and mild winters. If you live in a tropical, subtropical or warmer temperate region you can successfully grow a mango tree. These trees can suffer from frost damage over winter or early spring if the region is too cold.

Best soil for your mango tree

Mango trees can be grown in a range of soils but will thrive best if you take the time to improve it with organic matter first. Before planting out your mango tree take the time to mix through some aged cow manure and compost if you have it.

Worm castings are also fantastic for mixing through the soil before planting your mango tree. All of these ingredients are full of organic matter and will help the soil to drain effectively and help the mango tree to spread out its roots and grow strong.

Before planting my new mango tree I spread a whole bag of aged cow manure over the area and mixed it through the soil. This raised the tree slightly which also helped to increase the drainage for the tree.   

Position the mango tree in sun or shade?

Finding the best place for your mango tree is important and it will help you to grow more mangoes and help to ripen the fruit. Mangoes love full sun so choose an open area where they will get as much sun as possible.

A part shade position will also work and is still a great option if this is the only place you have in your yard. My mango tree is growing well in part shade and gets lots of morning sunlight. Mango trees will grow slowly over the cooler months even in full sun.

When the bright warmth and sun arrives in spring your mango tree will jump to life and grow new leaves and flowers. This is a sign that you have a great position for mango tree and that it is growing happily.

Planting mango trees near other plants

Mango trees like to have space around their root system to stretch out and grow without competition. Allow your mango tree as much space as possible to allow it to grow to the size you want. While mango trees can grow over 100 feet if you allow them to they can also be kept small if you like.

Allow the amount of space that reflects the size you want your mango tree to be. The root system of the mango tree will mirror the top of the tree. It will grow a deep tap root and wide roots that will spread to around the width of the tree canopy.

Planting mango trees near buildings

Plant mango trees away from building to give them the space they need to spread their roots and branches. It is best to plant a tree at least 20 feet away from your house so that the tree can stretch out and not reach the building.

Branches can rub up against walls and rooflines if they are planted too close. Planting mango trees away from buildings will also allow them to get more sunlight and grow more fruit.

Planting mango trees in pots

Mango trees will grow perfectly well in pots and can be moved around to find the perfect position for summer and winter. If you live in an area that gets winter or springs frosts, a potted mango tree can be moved under shelter in the cooler months to protect its leaves from damage.

In summer, mango trees planted in pots love a full sun position or a place near a wall where the light and warmth is reflected. If you live in a tropical area this won’t be necessary but for cooler regions a masonry garden wall can help to increase fruit production and protect the tree from wind.

Planting a mango tree as a feature

Mango trees are a beautiful evergreen tree that makes the perfect feature in your garden. It can be planted together with citrus trees to form a green orchard or food forest or planted in a prime position and shaped to match the space.

Mango trees are very hardy and will take harsh pruning to keep them small and in the shape you want. Choose a dwarf mango tree to keep it smaller easier but any mango tree will fit to the space you want.

I have planted mine in the front of my yard to form a screen. I am growing mine to screen a wide area and will keep it low enough so I can reach the top easily and pick the fruit.

Where to plant a mango tree | Summary

Mango trees should be planted in full sun, in free draining soil with enough space for the roots to mirror the tree canopy. Keep your mango tree as small as 6 feet or let it grow large as a feature and shade tree. Either way you can grow a beautiful green tree with deep green leaves that will grow delicious fruit in Summer.

Mango trees love a tropical or subtropical climate but if you live in a cooler region you can still grow them successfully. Plant them in a pot and move them into a protected area under an awning against a wall to protect them from frosts and cold winds.

Happy gardening.