I have two figs in my backyard.  One is growing beautifully and the other started the new foliage and all of the sudden stopped.  I don’t know why this all of the sudden happened.  It seems like it’s just sitting there and not growing much at all.  I have a link to the pictures of it and also one picture of the healthy one. I’ve been watering it regularly, not sure what the difference between the two trees is.  I have mulch around its base to keep it moist since I live in the hot Phoenix.  That also worries me that its trunk will get burned by the sun since it doesn’t have a lot of foliage.

That does look ominous. You're a fair bit warmer there than we are here in Tucson, and the figs on my block are fully leafed-out and growing fast. Hopefully somebody will have some ideas for you. I would suggest checking with the Phoenix chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers Society, but I don't think they're meeting any more.

Yeah my other tree is fully leafed-out and has figs on it.  This one does not.  Last year it had tons and tons of figs and it seemed at the end of the season is where it started to decline. 

I don't have a clue but I saw what freeze damage did to the roots of one of my dad's trees a few winters back. Only the north side of the tree that had roots growing on or near the surface got killed by an unusual cold winter freeze. The south side of the tree remained sound. Over time the north side of the tree got to looking just like yours and finally the tree got blown down by a strong wind because it had no roots on the north side to hold it upright. The bark on the main branches on the north side also started drying and splitting. I hope you find an answer and what ever it is that is doen't spread to the other very beautiful looking tree.

One other guess is RKN perhaps. You could prove or disprove that by digging up some of the roots to check it out. Perhaps the roots are not able to intake the proper nourishment and water. 

Check for nematode,and if not,then your tree is too dense,produced too many fruits last year,depleted it's energy.
It need thinning.
It should be thinned ,so a mocking bird fly trough branches,without touching them.
Also aply some Limestone powder around the tree.
All this needs to be done if you can't find nematode in the soil.

You might also consider rigging a shade cloth canopy over it if you do heavy pruning. Exposed fig trunks and branches tend to sunburn very quickly in AZ.

If you find Nematode in soil,then the thinning is still needed,but ,the problem of nematode should be primarily taken care of.
I would also ammend the soil with natural fertiliser,like old caw manure.

Thanks guys for the input.  I've gone and thinned it down a bit.  I will get some manure and spread it around it and also get some limestone powder?  Do you suggest that I clear the mulch and do this and than put the mulch back on top or get rid of it entirely?

So I went to Lowe's today to get the Limestone powder and no one there had clue what it was.  Where can I get it? 

Go to one of those Ma and Pa garden centers. That where I think you might be able to find the powdered lime.
At least they would know what you are talking about.

Good Luck

Mix it into the Mulch ,no problem.
You did not say anything about checking for Nematode?.
Dig some roots out and you will see little round balls,hanging on the roots,if it is infested.
This is very important,more important than anything else you might be able to do.
You need to know this ,first.

Lowes got all kind of limestone:Powder,granulated,dolomitic,etc.
It is called :lawn(or, loan) doctor,Not sure how to spell this one,  it is used,for to neutralise acidic soil,in suburban lawns (loan)and gardens.

PS:If you can't find limestone in your area,it may be that the soil in Arizona is alkaline,and do not need any Limestone,so if so,forget about it.

How far apart are the two trees?  I would think that if they are in close proximity to each other, you could rule out soil deficiencies.  Check for RKN below the soil level, and inspect the tree for signs of borers (e.g. holes in the bark, frass, etc.). 

~james

Don't know the history of this tree, and I am NOT making an accusation of neglect, but it looks like a long-neglected tree, such as might be found in an abandoned orchard - one that is making it's last attempt at life. Assuming that it has had consistent water and fertilizer over the years, I would be investigating a root issue, looking for something that is restricting water or nutrient intake by the roots.

Jon is right.  RKN and borers are easy to look for, and if present the remedy can be started now, but they are not the most likely cause.  The probable cause is an issue with the roots (most likely from when the tree was grown in a container) which was not corrected when the tree was planted.  We had an apple tree which did not come out of dormancy this year.  When we pulled it out of the ground, we saw a root that had circled around the trunk (while in a container).  As the trunk and root grew thicker, the root strangled the top of the tree.  The remedy for this is a bit requires quite a bit of effort.

~james

Foreigndude1987 can you give more depth into your situation about your fig tree,  maybe there will be something that stands out as to your problem after you check the (Root system) and perhaps don't find a probelm .

I dont grow inground but many folks here on forum do and might see something further to what you have to say .

How long has the tree been inground.

How close is nearest fig plant.

Has anyone used weed killer last season or this season in vincinity of tree.

How often do you prune the limbs.

How often do you fertilize.

When you water do you spray the limbs .

Does that soil around tree actually drain down good or just few inches on top when watered and then dry quickly.

Have you noticed any type of bugs in that area on or around tree, ants, slugs, holes inground around tree , animal droppings etc.

Do some of the newer leaves coming out look like they have a loss of chlorophyll spotting , badly deformed unlike in past seasons ?

How many inground fig trees do you have and do any have Fig mosaic virus and if so do you use same cutting shears to prune all your plants .

What type of fig tree is that.








 

The tree has been there for the past 4 years.  It has not been neglected. Last time I fertilized it was about a month ago when it was starting to come out of its dormant stage. I still have not gotten a chance to dig up some roots to see if there are any balls attached to them.  The nearest fig tree to it is about 40 feet away with a citrus tree in between them. No one has used weedkiller near it last season. I haven't really pruned it much till yesterday when someone told me that it is too dense.  It has a drip system that is attached to it so when it gets water the limbs don't get wet and it gets a good 2 hour soaking of water. The soil does drain but I have mulch on top of it to keep the moisture. It only has ants on it usually when there are figs that's all Ive seen as insect wise. The leaves on it now are not the same size they are when they are fully grown, they are much smaller. Also it looks like its trying to produce little figs on the few of the tops of the branches. As the type of the tree, I am not sure exactly it does produce large figs.  I hope this gives you more detailed info about it. 

I am going to clear of the mulch and check the roots Monday. Than I did purchase cow manure that I will put around it, like someone suggested above.  Also I did purchase shade screens that I will rig above it to give it some shade so that limbs don't burn from the sun.  Also I will find the Limestone powder and mix that in as well.

Just a thought and I'm not an expert with fertilizers but could you have used a fertilizer with a high Nitrogen volume?
Don't know for sure but my understanding is too much Nitrogen can burn the roots.

Just my 2 cents.

Good luck,

That could be it, when I fertilized my citrus trees last time, I put some of it around the fig trees as well.  Than I really should get some limestone to level it out.  What kind of fertilizer is the best for them?

If the fertilizing is the issue then what I would do is give it a good dose of pruning and increase the watering.
The roots could be badly damaged and they're are not keeping up with the rest of the tree.
I personally don't think it's a good idea to fertilize it right now. Let that over dose run its self out. At least for a month or so.

Check for RKN as well.

You'll just have to do without figs out of that tree for this year. So concentrate on keeping the tree alive for now.

Hope the tree comes through for you, The figs will be all that much better at the other end.

Good luck,

Given the age of the tree and the probable size of the roots, as well as the probable size of the root zone, I think fertilizer burn is unlikely.  This is especially the case if the amount given to this tree is close to the amount given to the other trees.  The difference in the amounts would have to be many times greater.

How large was the tree when it was planted?  What size container did it come in?  Was any root work done to the tree before it went into the ground?

It was about 3 feet tall and was a 5 gallon container.  I am not to sure on that one. It is probably tripled in size since it was planted if not bigger.

Before adding limestone, you might want to consider getting a soil test. I think our desert soils here in AZ tend to be pretty alkaline already.

To indulge in some long-distance, arm-chair speculation, if both your trees are growing in similar conditions and receiving similar treatment, and yet have such a difference in performance, it seems doubtful that the same soil, or fertilizer, or even nematodes and other pests would have such opposite effects on the two trees. James' idea of encircling roots sounds very likely to me. In a "former life" studying landscape architecture at UC Davis, we were shown examples of just that problem and told that it's fairly common, and to be on guard for it when specifying nursery stock for commercial landscaping projects. If a seedling's or cutting's root happens to encircle the sleeve or whatever other type of container it's started in, and then it gets "potted up" to a one-gallon without correcting the problem, it can be a time bomb--if that root keeps growing and becomes a major root. As James said, it literally squeezes the main trunk or tap root below ground and strangles it, sometimes creating such an hourglass-shaped constriction that even a fairly minor wind will snap the trunk at that spot. Such trees typically grow just fine and then abruptly fail when there's no more room to expand. So, amidst checking out everybody's other excellent suggestions, I would also definitely scoop away enough soil on one side to expose eight or so inches of the main stem, to see if any rogue root has gotten a stranglehold.

Absolutelly I agree with Ken sugestions,and James,reasoning,and when you dig for encircling roots,check for nematode too,and start from there.
Also there is no need for Limestone if Soil is alkaline in Arizona,and it make sense for the garden store not to have it.

I will dig tomorrow to see if that is the case. If so what do you suggest I could do to fix it? Or is it too late?

I will dig tomorrow to see if that is the case. If so what do you suggest I could do to fix it? Or is it too late?