Hi all ,

I have an opportunity to buy a 10 year old fig tree that is beautifully pruned and full of figs from a friend who doesn't know the variety but green outside and white inside and great taste.
My problem is that my garage is 7.5 feet tall and this tree is almost 9 feet . There is 1 main trunk about 2.5 to 3 inches diameter . And the branches start at the 5 foot level . It is in a 20 gallon pot .
I was wondering if I could air layer the main trunk with maybe a 10 - 15 gallon pot sitting on the main pot or a bit higher . This would decrease the height by apx 2 feet and not ruin the shape.
I did this with a 5 foot tree once but the trunk was only 3/4 inch . It worked great and gave me 2 trees.

Thanks .... John

John I would just try and bring the top down by pruning it back to fit or build a bigger garage. HAHA the things we will do for our trees is amazing......

Hey northeastnewbie ,

I have had to trim the tops of a couple others to fit in the garage but that would basically destroy this tree due to the fact that almost all the branching would be cut away .
But the garage does have a bedroom above it . I don't think my daughter would mind a 4 foot diameter hole in the floor . Hmmm.

John

My neighbor pushed her tree over and it's growing sideways really so maybe you pot in on an angle and get it to fit in?

Air layering that tree would set it back several years. I agree with Northeastnewbie, why not just chop the top off and make it fit in the garage. You can also put in on a dolly and wheel it in at an angle. I have air layered crepe myrtles about 1 3/4 inches to two inches, it took a couple of years to get a solid rootmass.
I have air layered fig branches about 1 inch thick and it takes longer to get a rootball than a smaller branch.  I would not mess with air layering the trunk of this fig tree.
If it was my tree I would trim the top or bring it the garage at an angle without any trimming.
Or you can plan where to trim and air layer those branches that you'll be cutting off anyway and have some selling/trading material....

I think ben hit it on the head when the tree is dormant just lie it on its side support the main trunk with a saw horse to prevent top damage and let it rest on its side., We dig our trees and knock them over cover them with dirt then dig them up and they are fine.. As long as the tree does not break any top branches let it sleep on its side.

Cut the roots back and put less dirt in the pot for the winter. On a 20 gallon that's like 1-1.5 feet.

A 20 gallon pot is roughly 18 inches high, I don't see where you have the room to cutback the rootmass and gain any vertical space. Maybe 3-4 inches, I would not remove anymore than that.

Removing any substantial amount of rootmass (unless it's time root prune due to rootbound plant) is flirting with a long setback or worse. 

It all starts with the roots...

Thanks for your input guys.

I can't pass up this tree , I will try to post a photo when I get it . The price is very reasonable .
The owner was going to sell it last year due to the height issue but changed his mind last minute and couldn't part with it.
I might be able to fit it in with my in ground tree in the figloo.

John

Found a pic of exactly what I am talking about .



Link to website.

http://bonsaibark.com/2009/07/31/a-simple-air-layering-technique/

John

I think you're risking too much by trying to airlayer the tree to shorten the height. Absolutely does not make sense at all to do this. It will eventually put on growth at the top anyway, which will need to be pruned later on.
Just prune down the top as was suggested and go from there.

These are the results of the 5 month air layer I made on the tree to reduce its height .

The tree planted in my yard in May 7 feet tall 2 inch trunk.


Place a pot upside down for airlayer pot to sit on


The airlayer bucket


Cut away about 60% of the way around trunk


Installed bucket and potting soil . put sphag moss around wounded area


Air layer raedy to go


5 months later removed bottom support bucket and ready to cut


Lots of roots


Final product


Thanks .. John

John,

You do great work. Looks good.

                                             luke

Very nice job! A big improvement.

looks great john. 

Am sure the stump, will explode with new growth in the spring, providing the cold doesn't kill it. Looks to be big enough that it will sprout from roots even is stump dies.

Very nice work.  I am new to figging and continue to be amazed at how versatile these plants are.  It is really nice to see follow ups to these posts months or years later, gives invaluable knowledge to those of us who don't have the guts to try it. 

I probably would have just placed it on an angle like another person suggested.  But I think you'll definitely get two nice trees from this endeavor and will be rewarded for your risk.

Luke , Ken thanks.
Eli , the air layer shortened the tree by at least 2 feet . Otherwise all the new growth over 7 feet would have to be trimmed back every year so it could fit in storage for the winter . This tree was 9 feet to start with . This way I managed to keep the shape and bring the branches lower , more of a bush shape.
Ben , I intend on protecting the stump over winter . When I planted it the tree was in a 20 gallon pot ,so there is a large root mass .
Rob , I already had 2 trees of this variety so it was a bit easier to take the risk . But experimenting is half the fun and when we share our experiences , good or bad that's how we all learn . Thats what I've gotten out of this forum.

Thanks ... John

Hi all ,

Here is an update showing the tree ( and the original rootball ) made it through the winter and has about 60 figs on it . Gillette ( breba only tree ) .

HERE IS THE TREE JUNE 1 2012


BREBA


ON THE LEFT ORIGINAL POT ,  RIGHT ORIGINAL ROOTBALL PRUNED & POTTED


NEW GROWTH ON ORIGINAL ROOTBALL ( for Nelson if he still wants it )


John

If it were mine i would wait till its dormant and cut to level were right above those branches and just above a node, next season will bring new shoots at that node and some lower as well.
Keep the scion you cut in dormant season for further winter fun.
Your not going to kill it.
Each season prune as desired .

John...

Thank-you so much for photo documenting this process, and posting all the photos for everyone to see.  It is really interesting to read all of the varying comments  - pro and con -  for the air-layering process, but even more interesting to see the final results.

I hope the tree brings you great figs.  Really a nice tree.  Good luck and a happy growing season.

Frank

Hey Martin
I see what you mean . That would make a nice shape . At the height it is now (after the air layer of trunk was done ), and with all the branching I am happy with this tree . But if it gets too big again that would be a good way to go . Thanks for your input .

Hey Frank
I am glad you found this interesting . You're right , the pictures make all the difference , with before during and after the process. Sometimes little things you see in a photo answer questions you don't know you would even have .

John

Beatiful tree, John.

the little black ones I got from you are doing well

Grant
z5b

Hey Grant ,

Thanks . Good to hear Grant . I am trying to propagate as many of those as I can . I want to get that variety out there to as many collectors as I can to ensure its survival . It is that good !!!

John

Man, what a great job and to what an effort some people go through for figs?