Hello everybody! Thank you for letting me join! Just to start by saying I am a complete novice and live in the south west UK. I haven't even received my fig tree yet! It took me ages to find what I wanted, every grower here only sold little bushy things and I wanted more of a 'tree shape'. So it's in order from Germany (a lot of fun using google translate!). It will be a very special tree as my dog of nearly 14 years (I bet you can guess the breed based on my selection of fig tree!) has just passed away and it will be smack bang in the middle of a lawn, although relatively sheltered by high private hedge and a mighty oak! I obviously want to look after it and would appreciate any suggestions on planting. At the moment I plan to plant it in a lawn ring (so I'll have access to top up soil with manure/mulch. Plant it in a rootex bag to restrict root growth, (maybe put some bricks the hole too?). Put a tube and stake around it (looks quite fragile and young and use John inner number 3 as a compost with manure on top for initial planting. Is this okay??!! Oh and I'll wrap it in fleece in winter...and feed when fruiting. What's best for that? I've heard both seaweed and tomato feed as suggestions.

Welcome,  I think that is a great way to remember your special friend.

Sounds like you already have a good idea of what you need.  Sunlight, water and the right ph in the soil are important factors in the trees survival.  The fig tree is very hardy but needs protection against the elements, like you mentioned winter freeze. Keep us posted on the arrival of your tree and it progress as it grows. Welcome to the group!

Your planting plan sounds fine but I wouldn't be in a hurry to plant it in ground.  
Less risk and may grow better if you grow in a container for the first couple of years. 

@Sam101 : I also had and bred Dalmatians when I was in the mid and late teens and before my Dad went back to German Shorthairs as we had in Croatia for pheasant hunting purposes. My first Dalmatian female was a sweetheart and when she passed I didn't think we would easily replace her. That of course is not how life works and the first GSP female we had and named "Deanna" as in the fig was named after the Dalmatian, was equally sweet and a fantastic bird dog. Get yourself another dog and name it after your beloved dog of 14 years... another suitable way of honoring the memory of your dog...

T

Thank you everybody for replying and welcoming me!

Berryman: Thank you. I agree, he loved his food and the garden and, of course was a beautiful specimen that had origins in Dalmatia! So a tree from the same place that (I hope!) produces food is perfect!

Pino: I know, I have worries too and realise a pot would be better. However, I'm going to chance it as planting a tree in a pot in memorandum doesn't really have the right 'feel' plus I think the bronze plaque that I'm planning on would knock it over! If the little sucker survives the freight trip from Germany he'll be tough hopefully! I wish I had space against a wall, but unfortunately the suitable spaces (without Windows!) have really old pear trees and wisteria on. If things get really dodgy I always have the option of digging the rootex bag out (I've read that this is what a lot of fruit tree growers use for trees and it was one of the reasons I chose it as it means I have the option of taking it with me if I move!)

MStanleyross: I'll definitely try to keep everybody updated. Just ordered all my compost, manure, stake, protector, tree ring etc and have been pacing the garden (it was sunny today) to make sure the oak doesn't cast ANY shade on it! I now have the exact location and it gets sun from morning till late afternoon.

tsparozi: I will get another dog eventually...a bit early as yet and as somebody who renovates houses I feel it would be best to get one when I've finished my current project so I have time to slowly introduce them to the noise of power tools and hammers! I also need to make a decision on rescue or puppy.