I noticed that 2 of my young fig trees were yellowing and looking bad and then noticed that the yard man took some gashes out of thier trunks with the weed wacker. They are 2 years old and looking worse today... In the ground obviously.  Help! Does anyone know what I should do?? Wrap the gashes with tape maybe?

If you caught it early, you might try to bind it to see if it will heal. I would use twine rather than tape. Also for preventative purposes, you may want to put some kind of border around the trunks. I use local stones I find and mulch them. Its easy to get overly agressive with a line trimmer (I've done it myself with some of my plants)

Ok, thank you so much for the help.  I will do that right now.  Yes, the grass was pretty out of control :))

Water well, and add shade to reduce stress and dehydration. If it is really serious, bark grafting might be required.

OH I need to shade it, how much watering would you recommend? The twine I wrapped on yesterday has helped some today.  How do you usually give shade to your trees that are inground?

Well the tree is going downhill FAST! I had to dig it up and move it but the leaves are totally turning yellow then brown and crispy all in hours. :( But I got to check the roots and that was good news, no knots what so ever.   

sorry to hear that its not doing well. Where did you move it to? Have you thought about maybe cutting it back to the damaged area and let it come back next year? If the root structure is healthy potting it up and maybe moving it indoors might give it some time to recover for next spring.

Hi Steve! Thanks :( Well I moved next door to my Mothers house under the canopy of a pecan tree.  Unfortunately the damage is at the worst place the main trunk near the ground but all the roots look wonderful.  So I think what we will do is what you said, cut it back and pot it up and bring it in for some R&R . Maybe cutting it back will reduce the stress. How much do you think I should cut? Thanks so much for the input, it is much needed. My Celest got it too and looks like its on it way to getting the same treatment.

Some folks will trim their trees to the ground each year to maintain a more bushy form to their trees. If it has a good roots it should come back fine. Keep the soil in the pot moist but not wet and do not fetilize until you have new growth.

Well this morning it looks dead so today I am going to cut the trunk down , I would have done it last night but I have a sick little one.  What do you think I should use for potting soil when I pot it back up? I wont be usuing MG again, it seems to screw up my fig trees here.

If not to late you might want to cut one of the branches and try to root it as well. I would think that you should get some growth out of the exsisting root sytem of tree next year .

I've used 50% MG and 50% perlite and it has worked OK for me. If you are against MG some recommend pine bark mulch and compost instead of the MG. If you cut up your trees, would you be interested in sending me some of the cuttings for me to try? Always looking to expand my collection ;)

I agree with diesler, you should start some cuttings from what you trim off.

the 50 50 combo works great for my rooted cuttings, just dont try the mg tree soil with pearlite, I think it OD's the trees on fertilizer or something, looks like I will have alot of cuttings very soon, Texas BT and Celeste and some unknown I talked about in my other message about the mixed up cuttings , anyone want a grab bag tree, haha. The BT and the Celeste are yummy figs from these trees. I will let you know when I have them ready, prob a few days to a week. My little girl has Croup! So we spent the day in the emergancy room :(

I have 3 boys of my own between 5 and 10 and someone is always sick. I hope she feels better soon. Nebulizer and cool air humidifier was what we always used for croup. Let me know when you have some BT and Celeste, I would be interested. I'll have some in the fall I can trade.

Steve, I think getting accustomed to the bad bark cough is the hard part.. THanks bunches for the well wishes! I will let you know this week when we can get those to you. What do you think you will have this fall? Not that Im picky becuase IM NOT, haha. Most of mine I dont even know what they are.  I just know theyre good :) Hey maybe if my good friend down the street(older gentleman with 9 fig trees, 6 pomigranites and numerous others) gives me cuttings of his  this fall I can pass you the ones I already have. They are all really good but not identified.

Yup the coughs sound terrible. Good thing kids (and figs are hardy) its us parents that suffer more when they are sick. As far as the fig I have, its an old heirloom tree that my family has had for about 100 years in the US (not sure of its type yet). My kids are 5th generation who will be eating from this tree - I appreciate that fact although they do not yet. The original cuttings are thought to have been brought over by my great grandfather from Salerno province in Italy when he came through Ellis Island or from another immigrant at that time. A very special tree that I recall has always been hardy, a good producer and dark sweet figs. This is my first year fruiting in my yard. I brought cuttings here when my family sold my grandmother's house near NY Queens/Brooklyn border after her passing a few years back. I have been the only one in the family who has successfully propagated the tree (because I did my homework first). I have several other figs coming to me soon from other members and would be glad to share those cuttings as well when they are available. BTW, I am a big pomegranate fan also and have toyed with growing one of those one day when I know more about them. I think it would be a challenge to grow one here in north NJ.

I think your right about it being harder on us parents :)  I bet it is very stressful when you have 3 sick kiddos! I think its is wonderful that you are going to pass down this special tree for your boys.  Im pretty set on my Daughter loving figs, she thinks she loves them but its mostly because I harp on them so. haha. I love unidentified figs, the story makes it more special than any other tree you could hunt down.  Unfortunately the fig tree from my childhood is long gone but hopefully I will come across one of its cousins. I really would love to grow a dark fig.  My friend I was telling you about grows a bunch of pomegranates and just gave me some the other day.  He said he would give me some cuttings once fall sets in.  I will get you a cutting of his red one, I had one last night, sooo good! They are a beautiful bush too, with some stunning flowers.  I have only been to NY once about 5 years ago is the NJ weather similar to NY?  Texas is Hot Humid and unpredictable at best. My fig trees are going in these adorable little tents which should raise some eyebrows :p  How do you mail cutting? I have a interesting fig cutting right now you might want to try.

Hope your daughter is feeling better soon. Yup, 3 are hard 'cause when one gets sick, they all end up getting it including my poor wife (do not know how she manages it all - I get to go and hide at work). NJ weather (I'm in the Northwest part of the state) is colder than NYC with more snow & storms & sometimes hotter in the summer. We do not have the moderating affect of the water. Not sure about how to pack a pomegranate cutting (that would be great) but for the figs - wrap in damp paper towel or newspaper and put in a ziplock as if you were rooting in a bag. Shoot me an email and I can give you more info.

Thank you, we just got back from the Dr. office and got a good report. I bet its hard for her! Oh ok just fix them up for rooting and then I will message you. I think its the same for pomegranates. We are having constant rain right now so when it lets up I will get some togeather for you. Oh and the trees are looking better since the rain.

Good news that she's on the recovery trail. Also glad the rains are helping your little green kids.

Can't help with the current crisis, but I do protect my plants from crazy mowing and weed-whacking sessions by installing a cage of 1/2" mesh around the base of them... I bury it about 8"-12" deep and leave about 1 foot exposed above ground.

Here is a clear picture illustrating:

Just pretend the pomegranate is a fig ;-)

Secondly I keeps my Beagle and Jack Russel from digging them up.

Thirdly, it retains mulch from spilling out into the lawn.

Fourthly, It also give me a good place to secure the bottom of the bird netting to.

Lastly, it give a good means of securing and supporting small nursery pots for layering off babies.

Well look at you!  That is a great idea and I will totally use it, I dont know why I didnt think of protecting them somehow.  I will just have to get some wire snippers.  You have a great collection of pomegranates!  I want a Angel Red too!! Those see to be the cream of the crop.  One rumored wonderful (Im thinking its not though)and a very light with some pink variety that is very tangy.  He will be giving them to me when he prunes so I will dep post and let youll know what he gives me.  But if I have my way I will be buying some various trees soon to put out in the spring including some olive trees.  I will definantly have fig and pom cuttings to share. I cant wait to tackle layering off =>

I (just) went ahead and ordered a Red Angel from Willis Orchards.
I'll give you first dibs on any layerings/dormant cuttings

I'd be seriously interested in some Olive layerings

Do the fig rooting techniques and care methods apply to pomegranates? Specifically rooting in a bag and winterizing?

Looking forward to cuttings, thanks. I'm patiently waiting for my figs to ripen and then I'll take some cuttings to send out.