Is it safe to prune severely several weeks before 1st frost?

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GreenFin

Registered:1331268315
Posts: 684

Posted 1445313074 · Edited	Reply with quote #1

Would I be endangering my outdoor in-ground trees if I were to give them their winter pruning now, possibly still 3+ weeks away from 1st frost? My worry is that the trees would invest a lot of energy into pushing out new green growth that would promptly get frozen before paying dividends. Would that cause enough additional stress on the trees that it would dramatically affect their odds of surviving winter? (mulch will be their only winter protection) __________________ James, zone 6a Kansas (zone 10 greenhouses); wish list is in my profile http://www.FigCuttings.com

Smyfigs

Registered:1443660141
Posts: 1,658

Posted 1445315527	Reply with quote #2

Wow, interesting questions!! Watchibg this thread for the answers. __________________ Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a Looking for... Socorro Blk Wuhan Jolly Tiger Lamperia Preta Herschtetten St. Jean Black Ischia "The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa "Do not pass by a man in need for you may be the hand of God to him." ~Proverbs 3:27~ "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." ~Job 5:4

figgary

Registered:1387147322
Posts: 833

Posted 1445355149	Reply with quote #3

Open cuts will allow the freeze to enter the plant and do more harm, since they have not hardened off yet. __________________ Gary in CA 9A Seeking: Bebera Branca*, Colonel Littman's Cross

Jerry_M

Registered:1427223807
Posts: 344

Posted 1445362001	Reply with quote #4

Perhaps stop watering to slow down new growth and allow it to start sheding its leaves in prep for winter. Maybe only water when the current new growth starts to wilt. __________________ Jerry Canyon Lake, TX 8b Wanted: Cajun Gold, Louisiana Honey, Schar Israel-114 grams

figpig_66

Registered:1416870358
Posts: 2,678

Posted 1445366451	Reply with quote #5

I did a huge prune on three trees. Leaving only main trunk as a experiment to see the way it fruits. Seen some really big fig trees in my area with huge main trunk and only new growth from this,season. I waxed the ends with toilet ring wax. It is nice & thick. __________________ RICHIE BONI HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity Wish list. Col de dame blanc Col de rimada Lsu numbered figs

GreenFin

Registered:1331268315
Posts: 684

Posted 1445367477 · Edited	Reply with quote #6

Thanks for the replies, everybody. Quote: Originally Posted by figgary Open cuts will allow the freeze to enter the plant and do more harm, since they have not hardened off yet. Good point, I hadn't considered that. Quote: Originally Posted by figpig_66 I did a huge prune on three trees. Leaving only main trunk [...] I waxed the ends with toilet ring wax. It is nice & thick. Yeah, waxing could help counter what Gary noted. Quote: Originally Posted by Jerry_M Perhaps stop watering to slow down new growth and allow it to start shedding its leaves in prep for winter. That's a good thought, and I've been doing that. They're well mulched, though, so they're still vibrant and green. I think all the extra moisture being held in the ground is keeping the area warmer at night, too. I only have around 20 of these outdoor in-ground trees, so it would be feasible to give them some extra winter protection. I could prune them all back super short and wax them now, then put opaque blue 17-gallon tubs over them and set cinder blocks on top of the tubs when freezing temps finally arrive. Maybe that would be enough extra protection to compensate for the added cold sensitivity from recent cuts? __________________ James, zone 6a Kansas (zone 10 greenhouses); wish list is in my profile http://www.FigCuttings.com

SuperMario1

Registered:1441853363
Posts: 441

Posted 1445368717 · Edited	Reply with quote #7

I would just wait, but I like to keep things simple. __________________ Wish list: Galicia Negra, Violetta, Violette de Sollies, Dan_la's Black Beauty 10, Craven's Craving, Most important: YOUR FAVORITE FIG. A lot of people put emphasis on popular/exotic cultivars, which is great because it highlights some of the better fig varieties; however, I am most interested in the figs our members love regardless of pedigree. Currently Growing: a bunch of varieties.

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1445414155	Reply with quote #8

Hi, For me, it all depends on the temperature that you have outside. If the temps no longer go over 12°c and 5°c at night or go lower, the trees won't start growing again. I've started some chopping on some branches that were done with figs for this year and that were in the walkway or already growing in the neighbor's garden. It is my take on this, that you should air the wounds for a week or two before installing the protections, or you may get mold. Nevertheless, here, I wouldn't install protections too soon as rodents are still moving around seeking hides for the winter ... and you would be making a nice setup for them... So I would wait until the frost has come and the beasts have settled a bit more. Last year, a neighbor used a large (4m4m/ 14'14') plastic sheet to kill weeds. When he removed the sheet, that land had become rodent's central highway field. You could see their roads at the top of the dirt as the plastic provided them some shelter ... So not a good move IMHO. You are in Zone6, so now you could cut how you want, let the wounds air, and protect the trees before the first frosts. __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,724

Posted 1445460291	Reply with quote #9

Quote: Originally Posted by GreenFin Thanks for the replies, everybody. I could prune them all back super short and wax them now, then put opaque blue 17-gallon tubs over them and set cinder blocks on top of the tubs when freezing temps finally arrive. Maybe that would be enough extra protection to compensate for the added cold sensitivity from recent cuts? Sounds like a recipe for mold. I would care for them normally and let nature take its course. __________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.

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