Hello,

I have a 4 yr. old White Kadota fig tree and have been noticing that the trunk wood looks dead but the limbs and tips are green. Was wondering what action I should take on this or will be fine, Left it out in the winter last yr. was thinking that might be the cause. If anyone has any knowledge on this or experience please let me know.

I have posted pictures below.

certain branches of the fig-drying.Keep fresh shoots

Wait to see if any additional shoots come off the dead-looking trunk.  If not, cut off the dead part and bury the new shoots upright, covering up the dead drunk you have cut off.  This should allow you to keep a nice upright single-trunk tree, and you would never know you lost the main trunk.

I see that 1/2 of the main trunk-bark circumference is (somehow)  gone.

The damage that you see was caused by partial freezing of the branch. Ice crystals formed beneath the thin young fig bark and separated it from the cambium layer.  Bark separating from the cambium layer is not good. This kills the bark.....and sometimes the entire branch. That wound will eventually scab over the damaged part. This happens to some of my in ground fig trees too.

Dan

I agree with Gorgi, that is exactly what I would do with that. To me, it looks like it could be damage from rodents or deer?

Gorgi its encouraging to to hear you say figs respond well to heavy pruning.  Im always torn when I have to remove a branch even though I know its in the best interest of the tree.  I feel like I am literally removing figs and not just a branch.  This year though, Im going hard at shaping my trees.

Thanks for all the help, I will do this...