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_ 12 Feet Tall Italian Fig Tree Giveaway :)

Now we all know:

Who do you call ?...
them 'Ghost Busters' ?...
no, no..., just call Jimmy.

When I want to move trees in the spring I root prune them in the fall and add bio plex or Superthrive. This encourages new smaller roots to start growing closer to the trunk. In the spring I dig a trench around the root ball and bio plex again. Let that absorb for two or three days and then finish your dig. A tree that big I would wrap in burlap and throw in a wire basket. You can burlap and wrap in chicken wire bound tight for the same effect. Wrap it very well before you try to lift it out of the hole. A 2" tree will weigh about 150 lbs. A 6" tree is well over 1000 lbs. You can google the correct size root ball based on the actual caliper. A double truck is only calipered on the largest trunk. (Don't double it). This sounds like a very large tree and the rental of some equipment may not be a bad idea. P.S. I've been a landscaper and Landscape Designer for over 20 years. I've never moved a fig tree that big but the theory should apply.

does the fruit lose theres sweetness and taste after the tree reaches a certain age?
the reason why I want to keep it is , I want to keep growing it and get a really fat tree,
will the taste improve or starting to die down?

Quote:
Originally Posted by gorgi
>>> and the bark is around 11 inches thick.
Is that the circumference?
Or is it 11/[fig]pie = 3.5" diameter?

For a 10 year old; an 11" diameter trunk seems a little huge for me
(and much much harder to dig out).

Is it a single trunk tree or a bush?

It looks like a very good delicious fig, and for a few cuttings, I may be able to come help out too.

I would first trim it down and save ALL the cuttings.

The big job is digging the root ball out.
I would cut the roots, say 12-18" away and all around the stump, and then
somehow pry it loose; a good heavy duty crow-bar comes to mind (I have 2).
[also some 2' piece of a tree-log/4x4-wood/etc., will do as the lever-pivot-point]

Just cutting the tree to ground does not make your friend happy;
it will grow back pretty quickly [most likely as a thick bush].
I have heard that pouring some weed-killer on a freshly cut trunk
(splitting the trunk may be better) will kill the rest of the tree stump and roots.

Late in the season, one can also force dormancy by cutting all the leaves too.







I hope someone in this forum can ID this Fig tree

Looks like you can get 2 trees out of that...  Take a look at this...

http://aubreypub.typepad.com/weblog/2010/02/mobile-fig-tree.html

  • Avatar / Picture
  • Tam

George: That is a very nice tree. It is a double-trunk tree which represents the twin sisters. Please let them stay together, do not separate them; moreover, the tree will weaken more further if you do divide them. The bark of your tree is like your skin. When it’s damaged, pathogens get in which cause infections easily and furthermore, your tree will devote all its energy to healing instead of growing. Thank you.

Best,
Tam

I can totally understand wanting to keep the tree as is. A lot will depend on how bound the roots are in the yard. 
From a tree friend of mine
(Remember that transplanting causes stress, which you want to minimize as much as possible. If you want to transplant in spring, it must be done after the ground has thawed and before the plant has started to bud out.  If you wish to transplant in the fall, it should occur after leaf drop but before the ground freezes. A transplant will likely not survive if it has budded out in the spring or if it has not had time to become established in the fall prior to ground freeze.) 
Fig can be very resilient and given enough care can go through a great deal, just make sure you have it's new home good to go so it, spends as little time out as possible. I moved three 15'-20' tall crape myrtles and  they had been pushed out of the ground by an earth mover.... they are lovely trees 9 years later. 
You will need to do major pruning and if you did have some cutting left over after everyone else got some I'd like a couple.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tam
George: That is a very nice tree. It is a double-trunk tree which represents the twin sisters. Please let them stay together, do not separate them; moreover, the tree will weaken more further if you do divide them. The bark of your tree is like your skin. When it’s damaged, pathogens get in which cause infections easily and furthermore, your tree will devote all its energy to healing instead of growing. Thank you.

Best,
Tam


Tam, well it produce good figs in the future as it agwes? would the figs taste as good let's say 10 to 15 years from now? how many years does a fig tree live?

That is a huge tree!
I hope that you are not planning to transplant as is.
If so, you will need to bring in some heavy artillery.

  • Avatar / Picture
  • Tam

George: Fig trees are  in the genus Ficus, from the family Moraceae. They are one of the ancient trees.   If they are healthy, they do live very long time, more than 1000, 2000, 3000 years old. Thank you.

Best,
Tam

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tam
George: Fig trees are  in the genus Ficus, from the family Moraceae. They are one of the ancient trees.   If they are healthy, they do live very long time, more than 1000, 2000, 3000 years old. Thank you.

Best,
Tam


but how do they taste though? does it produce the same quantity figs as it did when they were 10 years old?

do you have any idea of what type of soil mix i should use?

Quote:
Originally Posted by gorgi
That is a huge tree!
I hope that you are not planning to transplant as is.
If so, you will need to bring in some heavy artillery.


Hmmm, I would like to lol.
but as you see, they are some fence in front of it, what kind of missionary do I need to rent?
How much would you think it will cost if I hire some landscapers to do the job for me?

Is the tree in Astoria?
We go there a couple time a month for seafood
I'd like to maybe snip a few twigs and get an early start if that might be possible?

Wouldn't hurt to give a tree guy a call and see about the cost of moving it...
I used to live in Astoria.... where do you go for Seafood Rich?

Quote:
Originally Posted by GRamaley
Wouldn't hurt to give a tree guy a call and see about the cost of moving it...
I used to live in Astoria.... where do you go for Seafood Rich?


Taverna Kyclades and MP Taverna are a couple of our favorites

George
Whatever happens eventually, take a lot of cuttings and root a couple of them as suggested by someone. That will be an insurance in case it is found to be too much to dig and move.

George, any chance I can acquire some clippings too :) I'll provide an address if you provide a PayPal email.

Quote:
Originally Posted by OttawanZ5
George
Whatever happens eventually, take a lot of cuttings and root a couple of them as suggested by someone. That will be an insurance in case it is found to be too much to dig and move.

good point

Quote:
Originally Posted by RichinNJ
Is the tree in Astoria?
We go there a couple time a month for seafood
I'd like to maybe snip a few twigs and get an early start if that might be possible?


Nobut I go there very often, I live in Whitestone.
Sure you can , I just have to ask the owner first and I will let you know , no rush for a early start , there is a lot of new growth at the bottom of the tree (2 - 3 feet).
it would be better if you come in the spring, by then it will be 5 - 6 feet tall

Quote:
Originally Posted by gorgi
While you are at it; do take some pics of  some 'typical' leaves off the mother tree.
That will be much help for a (possible) fig ID, for the many fig experts here (not me!).


Hi Gogi.

I was wondering if nobody have seen this fig before and it's unknown , can i name them?
do you think people in this forum will accept it?
has anyone done this before?

Hi George:

You have a PM. Can you please contact me?

Thank you,

Leon

Quote:
Originally Posted by leon_edmond

Hi George:

You have a PM. Can you please contact me?

Thank you,

Leon



Hi Leon ,.
I PM you, and sorry for the delay my friend.

Hi George:
I finally got your PM. Look for my reply today.
Leon

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