I am new to figs but not gardening and try to search before posting.  The information I found was a little confusing about fig rust.  My new Hardy Chicago was planted in the spring and just recently, and quickly, has fig rust.  Do you recommend removing the badly affected leaves or just grin and bare it and let them fall off naturally and then dispose of them.  Thanks everyone as this forum is just awesome!

 

   

I remove yellowing or rust covered leaves on my trees.
I do not spray for rust.
Some varieties show it worse than others.

I like to keep it clean at the base of my in ground figs.
No old  leaves laying around and I pull leaves off the bottom foot or so
of my 6-7 foot trees.
This allows air to circulate and not hold the extra moisture that rust seems to thrive on.

Doug

Thanks Doug.  I will edit my post with some pics later when I get home.  Appreciate it.

Are you sure its rust?  I think you are too far North for that problem, rust is typically a condition seen in the humid South, as far as I know.  Nutrient deficiencies can cause yellowing leaves and spots as well, and the same for sun burn.  Potted plants often miss the micro-nutrients readily available in the soil.  Products like Espoma Iron Tone or Ironite can help.

Many of my trees have lower leaves that turn yellow and fall off.  I assume this is a natural process but could be wrong.  I do not remove yellowing leaves as I believe the tree is actually reabsorbing nutrients from the leaves as they die. 

Phil, I am not sure of much when it comes to identifying diseases.  It looked like the pics I could find and matched the timing.  We have had some really hot weather here (100+ for a week and a half) that gave way to 3 days of overcast and rain.  The condition started before the rains hit.  I have been watering every other day until the rains.  I am open to any of your comments and/or suggestion.  Hope the pics I edited into the original post is helpful.   Thanks so much.
Keith

If you think the leaves may be diseased, why would you leave them on the plant?
Its best to remove the leaf and the problem at the same time.
Your leaves just look like end of season yellowing to me.

Other opinions will vary.

Have fun,

Doug

Below I copied from one of ascpete's posts, here -

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/can-anyone-diagnose-leaf-problem-7007085?highlight=nutrient&pid=1283669467#post1283669467

Thanks everyone for helping out a newbie to figs.  I need to take this information in and go from there.  I really appreciate your advise!  Thanks again.

Hi dirtguy50,
Welcome to this forum.
As far as I can see, the problem is located on the old leaves. So normal aging for me .

Next year in March, or April, you can hit this tree with some fertilizer or/and pot it up .

You could still hit her now with a bit of fertilizer to help the tree thicken its trunk before dormancy. I bought some fig trees last week and hit them with fertilizer on planting them as the dirt in their pots looked exhausted .
If the tree has been growing normally she won't use the fertilizer for growing as temps do not encourage her to.
To do or not to do ... The choices are yours :) .

What king of medium do you have in that pot ?