Has anynone ever air layered the main trunk of their trees? I have two trees that are about 7 ft. tall in pots. One might go in the ground next year, but the other I may airlayer. My question is, Will it kill the bottom half? Or will it just turn into a bush style? The garage door behind the plants is 10 ft.

Check out this post , it should answer any questions you may have .

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Can-I-air-layer-main-trunk-5238353

john

Won't kill the bottom and yes it will turn bushy. But I haven't airlayered a trunk.

John, That was some good info. Thank you..

  Art

I have done it. It worked out great for me and the owner of the airlayer. I documented the results in this post. http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/The-Great-Airlayer-Experiment-5377460

I did it with great results.
Check out my thread;

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/My-Fiorone-De-Ruvo-air-layer-5387542

http://www.galgoni.com/ENG/Reproduccio/rcp_marcot.htm

This seemed pretty informative as well.

Thanks everybody, you guys made my mind up. I will give it a try next spring.

Hello Art,

I have not air layered a fig trunk, but I have rooted one as a cutting, about 1 inch in diameter and 24" long. Fig plants are very resilient and as long as there are roots and leaf nodes (growth points) they will grow. Attached is a edited copy of a picture that is posted on this forum, of a "Japanese fig espalier" for growing in containers. the cross hatch on the branches and trunk represent leaf nodes. I edited out the metric dimensions. Step 1 and 2 represented one growing season June to September of this year. The spread of the main branches can be adjusted as required. If you do a search, the available info is quite descriptive. The ultimate shape of the tree is up to you. Also note the attached picture of the step-over form for in ground planting (possibly next to a fence).

PS. This would not work for breba only cultivars (Desert King).

Good Luck

Thanks Pete,  I learned this from growing peaches. I once had a peach addiction, but not as bad as these dang figs!