If this is Magnolia virginiana an open habit is typical of the species

need a pic.. and an ID ... location wouldnt hurt either ...

how old is the plant?

ken

It's not Virginiana - got one of those too, but in a space that needed light coming through. This magnolia should be providing screening, or at least that's my hope. It was here when we moved in 4 years ago and was about 5' tall a the time. Looks to be about 11' tall now. The branches near the top are pointed upwards, so it dense at the top. But the bottom half they angle out with the first 2'+ of the branch bare. I will try to post a pic later. The leaves are BIG, green on the top side and yellow or brown underneath. White flowers, when it's in the mood.

Sound like a grandiflora.

See my thread about southern magnolias on Capital Hill. Notice how the thick, full trees are grown in the open and appreciate how large they get. I would have pinched out the terminals last month before new growth came out, you might try that next April.

It is normal for the large, plastic leaves to fall now. It takes several years for them to decompose. I let mine form a thick blanket under my tree where they are virtually unseen.

Ok, now I know the key words - pinching terminals. I just came across this - "The soft, green growing tip of a branch is called the “terminal bud.” This bud produces a hormone that affects the growth of side branches. The biology of basic pruning is simple: if you remove the terminal bud, the lateral buds below your cut will be stimulated to grow into more branches. If you leave the terminal bud, the branch will grow longer instead of thicker."

So my question is, if I cut off the terminal bud, will new branches grow below that? The branch is bare, no other buds. Will the tree create new buds? And is it ok to do now if I don't care about saving the leaves or potential flower on that branch?

That's something I'd do in the late fall, winter, or very early spring (tip pruning). You'd probably just stop getting growth for the rest of they year if you do it now.

I suspect you may need more sun to get the tree you're after.