This Black Mission is my first fig tree. I am located in Phoenix. This image is from March when we planted it, please note that there is now a large berm with mulch around it and it is staked differently as it is quite top heavy due to how the nursery pruned it. Phoenix gets high Monsoon winds and I had to keep it staked longer than I would most trees to due the shape and the wind speeds we get here. It has fruited twice already, fruit is delicious. I have many fruit trees but this is my first fig and I would prefer that it be more leafed. I have done a search on this forum and I do not see trees shaped like this so I a sort of at a loss for how to prune this thing when it goes dormant in a month or so. Most are bushier (which is how I plan to train the future figs I am getting). Any input?
-Radtechg9

 

Hi Jeannine,

Welcome to the forum.

Given the conditions you describe you might want to consider drastically restructuring the
top growth.Black Mission is a very vigorous variety and can get away from you in a hurry.
I'd take it down to no larger than 36" once dormant and start restructuring it from there.

Agree with Paul.  If you want a bush cut the top off.  It will sprout lower laterals in spring.

Welcome

Hi
just my 2cents
I would airlayer main trunk about three feet up,
airlayer the bottom branch on the left,
now you have three trees keep all or trade two for different varieties
just my opinion
Happy figging

Hi,
With a more recent pic, it would be better. Because as the tree is, I wouldn't cut anything.
Just let it grow and fruit for you.

The middle portion of the tree is a bit crowdy and you could cut one or two stems to space the remaining stems and then cut just under the top 3 stems to remove the leader and keep the tree smaller.
But really for now, I just wouldn't cut anything.
Once a fig tree has been cultivated in a tree form, it is less likely to send root shoots.
If you want a bushy tree, take cuttings and raise them into a bushy tree.

What is the hight from soil to first branch. Looks to be three feet. I would lightly prune just to shape up the long branches sticking out

I am loving the Air Layer idea.
The trunk of the tree is actually sending out shoots, several that I can see as of now at different levels between the base and the lowest branch which is about 3.5 feet off ground.
In Phoenix I expect this tree to go dormant in the next 5-6 weeks or so.
-Jeannine

http://postimg.org/gallery/1wecju1to/

Above is link to image of the fig as it is now. We unstaked and then then top heavy nature of the tree and the swinging winds of monsoon season took its toll and the tree began to lean northwest. On top of that a bird built a darn nest in the longest limb sticking out to the left on the bottom! So it is now restaked. New growth is visible on trunk in several spots beneath the main branches.
-Jeannine