How to Prune Little Gem Magnolia Trees

Overview

The Little Gem Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem') is a variety of the Southern Magnolia that is smaller and more compact. It has an upright shrubby form, rather than a tree form. It grows 20 to 30 feet tall and 10 feet wide. The showy fragrant flowers of the Little Gem Magnolia are creamy white and measure 3 to 5 inches across. They appear in the spring and sporadically throughout warm weather. The Little Gem Magnolia is a slow-growing evergreen tree and needs little pruning.

Step 1

Use lopping shears to cut limbs that measure ½ to 1 inch in diameter. Use a bow saw or pruning saw to cut larger limbs. Saw off large branches just outside of the branch collar, a region of raised bark at the base of the branch.

Step 2

Prune out crossed or bent limbs with the lopping shears or saw.

Step 3

Remove dead, damaged and diseased limbs and branches with the lopping shears or saw.

Step 4

Trim wayward branches or limbs that spoil the shape of the tree with lopping shears.