buonnatale2u
1299090139
Posted 1330114234
Reply with quote #1
HI Everyone,
I wanted to start a thread asking how people prune and/or shape their fig trees.
I have seen figs trained with just one main leader with a post, some remove all bottom branches and only leave the top to have a "tree look", and some are left alone to just grow,etc.
SO I was wondering what you all prefer to do with your figs?
What are the benefits of a certain technique?
What age do you start pruning?
Do you train differently for Pot/Container vs. Ground?
Thanks in advance! Christy
james
1189185103
Posted 1330143305
Reply with quote #2
Hi Christy,ease of watering ease of maintaining around the base of the tree (e.g. keeping mulch and leaves from building up on the trunk) ease of harvest aesthetically pleasing (at least to me) As it turns out, mother nature has other plans for me. Despite being in zone 8B, my trees suffer near 100% die back during the winters. Consequently, most of my trees are multi-trunk from the ground. I am planning on letting them grow as is until they are old enough (or some formula is found for them to survive the weather) then start removing trunks to bring them back to a more desirable (for me) form. My other fruit trees (pomegranates, asian pears, apricots, peaches, etc.) which do not suffer cold damage I grow in the single trunk/open vase shape.
As to when to start pruning... as soon as they are big enough to be shaped into the form you want, and prune annually.
~james
2016 Wish List: Dārk Pōrtuguese, Grānthāms Royāl, Lātarolla, Negrettā, Nōire de Bārbentāne, Rockāway Green, Viōlet Sepōr , Viōlette Dā uphine . Iranian figs are always welcome.
northeastnewbie
1267756970
Posted 1330172956
Reply with quote #3
Prune your tree annually at the end of the growing season when dormant. Prune out all damaged, and inward growing branches, any branches that cross each other and touch should also be removed. you want an open center tree allowing light and air to get to the center. Open vase shape as james mentioned. Cut just above an outward facing node this will have the new branch grow out away from the center of the tree. Use a good sharp pair of bypass pruners and you will be set. You want to remove 1/3 of the new growth from last season. My in ground trees are more bush form for production of fruit and my potted trees are more traditional center leader trees. Fig trees are real forgiving when it comes to pruning because of the rapid new growth.
pitangadiego
1188871011
Posted 1330182899
Reply with quote #4
See Pruning
http://encantofarms.com
http://figs4fun.com
http://webebananas.com
Chapman
1267669490
Posted 1330222070
Reply with quote #5
ohjustaguy
1294505489
Posted 1330234843
Reply with quote #6
Chapman, I like what you did. I hope to have my trees look like yours in a few years....
http://www.kevinsedibleyard.com/
buonnatale2u
1299090139
Posted 1330289538
Reply with quote #7
Wow Chapman, your trees are beautiful! I wish I had all of that land I see in the backround or even just a piece of that land!
Thank you everyone for your advice so far!
I have most fig trees in containers due to the ground here. I live on a fresh water lake. It is not a big lake, but the one end of the lake is actually the beginning of the Pine Barrens here in NJ. There is a lot of pine and cedar. The water actually has a red hue to it from the cedars here.
Trees do not seem to get very old by the lake. SInce I lived here the last 5 years, I have had 4 major huge trees either fall or have to be cut down due to them being rotten in the middle. just missed the house with 2 of them falling.
I have drawf fruit trees too in the ground and containers. I planted the same 2 cherry trees, one in the ground, one in a large container. The next year, I got enough cherries from the container tree to make a small batch of preserves. On the same tree in the ground, there were only 3 cherries!
So, while I will put some figs in the ground, all of my rare and special figs will have to remain in containers.
My young figs (in pots) I have just let them be until they get older, but I am wondering if I should stake some of the figs to grow up straight that are growing totally sideways or just leave them alone until they get older.
Chapman
1267669490
Posted 1330310492
Reply with quote #8
Thanks for the nice comments. I am not an expert on figs, but I think you should prune back the main leader of your fig tree to encourage it to branch out. I think it would be good to stake your young fig trees to make them grow straight. I wish we could grow cherries down here, but it's too far south. Good luck with your figs.
