I saw a fig tree on the way home today. It looks like it suffered from the harsh winter we had with a few days in the teens because I see lots of bare branches sticking up from lush growth from the base. I think the tree is roughly 10' high x 8' wide with about half of the height just dead old branches. It doesn't look like the owner made any attempts to trim off the dead wood. What caught my eye was the leaf pattern, it had long fingers like VdB or RdB. The house is located on a fairly busy road and there's always traffic so I can't really slow down to take a good look.

My question to everyone is: what is the best way to approach the owner as in when I knock on the door besides hello, what would be a good opening sentence?

I would like to know what variety it is and possibly come and make an airlayer or get cuttings when it goes dormant.

Any advice besides a bullet proof vest?

And when I go back tomorrow, please don't laugh at me if it turns out to not be a fig tree!

Always approach with introducing yourself and bring up how you couldn't help but notice that their tree is going through something that your knowledgeable self can help the situation.

Always give first!

Never ask first!

If and when they start trusting you, they will offer.

Aaron gave you good advice.  If you have something to bring him, that is nice too.  Most people are really nice when they sense your intentions are good.

Good luck to you!  And may the tree be a winner!!

Suzi

Should I bring my pruning shears and offer to help trim the dead branches? Also, I know that were supposed to trim off the dead wood but why is that? I don't know and just in case they ask.

Attracts harmful insects

David, just come pick me up and I will help you with this

Thanks for the offer Mike. There's a time in everyone's life where they have to step up to the plate and make things happen... This will be my first approach. Actually, there's another tree that I saw that's in my neighborhood and another one about 5 miles from where I live that's supposedly 50+ years old but I'm afraid to ask. I've never just knocked on someone's door uninvited before. This will be a steep learning curve for me. Wish me luck. I'll try to go there in the morning. Hopefully they're home and hopefully it really is a fig tree and not something else. If I strike out I'll go to the 50+ year old tree and try.

And please remember, don't laugh at me if it turn out to not be a fig tree...

Out of curiosity, what kind of harmful insects?

Ants and numerous species of beetles for starters

When you knock or ring the bell take a step back, and be sure to smile!

David, that's what you can offer. But don't appear desperate to do anything...tell them you could help freshen up the tree, they would appreciate, especially if they are older people, then you can arrange another visit to execute the task.

Great, thank you everyone for the advice :)

In one sense, there is nothing you can do to achieve your goal (though you can screw it up). It very much depends on the person who has the tree. If they are a giving, sharing, caring type, you will have a hard time not getting cuttings. If they are not that kind of person, you will have a hard time talking them into giving you cuttings. So, don't beat yourself up to badly, if you do not succeed - you may well not be the problem.

Be a friendly, engaging, normal person, not a whack-job and you will do fine. The rest is up to the owner.

I have found that leaving a note seldom, if ever, works. Better to return when someone is home,.

Be up front and tell them that you're a fig lover and part of a group of fig lovers and you're interested in their tree - where it came from, what color fruit, etc.

...or, just wear your Black Ninja Suit for a night. I'll stop right there...LOL

Hi,
Or if yourshelf have a figtree with enough figs, bring them some and tell them they come from your tree, and you would be willing to get
a sprout from their tree because it looks so beautiful and big, and perhaps swap one sprout from your tree for one of their tree ...
You could try: "I have a small tree from my strain that I would like to swap with you" ... I'm wondering why I've been preparing some pots in the garden :P ...
But in the end, they just might say : GET OUT OF MY PROPERTY ... And that's life !
Just prepare yourself for a "No", and don't take it too bad .

I always bring a bottle of wine. I go in the fall after the branches have hardened off if I want to take cuttings

I hate ringing bells and usually pass by many times hoping to catch someone in the yard. I always open with “I couldn't help but notice your beautiful fig tree…….”

Most people are fascinated that we trade cuttings all over the world.

Not 1 person would allow a cutting from a growing tree so I usually add “could I come back in Oct/Nov and get a small cutting….”

Probably approached close to 30 people the last several years, only 1 bad experience.

99% are happy to share. Like one person said, when I do ring a bell I retreat down the stairs giving them plenty of room. I usually carry a letter or follow up with a letter with my name, address and phone number.

Not 1 person knew their variety. Every person thinks their fig taste fabulous. Most people with dark figs call it black.

I’m not above a midnight requisition. The way I look at it is the more figs I grow the better the critters eat. 

I’ve only done 1 midnight requisition. I must have rung this guy’s bell every day of the week at least 20 times total. I finally clipped a small cutting from his front porch. It didn’t root. Justice!

 

just don't hold the pruning scissors in your hand when ringing the bell :)

 

If I had someone knocking on my door inquiring about my trees, I don't know how receptive I'd be initially.  Your approach would have to be very generous.  Now if they stopped by while I was outside, I would feel a little more comfortable.  But that's just me being paranoid and overprotective of my family.

Good morning or good afternnoon may not be a bad way to start. 

Attempt 1: FAIL

I stopped in this morning and knocked on the door (no door bell) and stepped back. After about 2 min still no one came to the door so I knocked again. The blinds opened and I saw someone looking out at me so I waved. A very elderly lady opened the door and asked "may I help you?". I replied by saying "I drove by and couldn't help but notice your beautiful tree. I was wondering if you knew what type of tree that is?" She just spoke to me through the door screen. I think she was hard of hearing because she asked "What?". So I repeated again. She just said "a fig". I then said "the tree is very beautiful, would you happen to know what kind of fig?". She replied "a fig". I then said "what about the type of fig?" and she replied "a brown turkey". Her tone was very suspicious the whole time and although my tone was very joyful and happy she didn't warm up. Then I asked if she would mind if I take a closer look at the tree. She said "I'd rather you not". Then I said "Ok ma'am, thank you so much for your time, have a wonderful day" and then I left. I pulled out and noticed that there was a shopping center next to the property so I parked my car and walked along the tree line out of site of the home and took the pictures. I wish I could zoom in better because the leaves were definitely not brown turkey. The fingers were very elongated. As you can see in the picture there was a lot of winter damage. I so wish I could have taken a close up picture of the leaves, it was so nice! 

 

 


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Attempt 2: SUCCESS

I knocked on the door and a younger guy came to the door and asked "may I help you?". I said the same thing about driving by and noticing the beautiful tree. He was very nice and said they're not ripe yet, if you come back in 2-3 months they'll be ready. I told him I wasn't there for the fruit and that I was interested in just the gardening aspect and how I admire the leaf patterns and how they grow. He was so nice and asked me if i've ever had figs before and I said no. I told him I was currently growing and collecting figs and that I was new to gardening and I am waiting for my figs to ripen. He then said he'll be right back and came back outside with a jar of fig preserves and gave it to me :) He then said would you like a tour? I was like absolutely!  So he took me to the tree and we talked about it for a bit. I asked how old it was and if he knew what type it was. He said that its probably over 50 years old and the fruit is a purplish brown fig. He said he is renting the house from an older lady and she said the same thing. He had a shovel and asked if I wanted to dig up some of the shoots growing on the side and that he didn't know any other way he could share. I then talked about air layering and how its a way to share a tree. He was very interested so I asked if I can come at a later date and make an air layer. He said please do because he would really like to see how it is done. After we talked for a bit he took me around his property and showed me his peach and apple trees as well as some blackberry bushes and asked if I wanted to pick some. Oh, he also said I am more than welcome to come and get chestnuts when they are ready from his tree. Chestnuts...? I don't even know what to do with those but then he explained that many people come in the fall and collect them. He also offered me to come and get fresh honey in about a month or so. I asked if I could take pictures to show my friends online and he said please do. These are the pictures I took. The leaves look like my celeste. What do you think?

 

 

 

Typical Southern Brown Turkey I believe.