I've been offered a sucker of a fig tree growing in the ground. Roots and all. I need to move it to my house and I'd like to move it into a pot. It dies back to the ground every year here. They are currently less than waist high. I assume I shouldn't disturb the roots any more than I have to now.

Should I move it from their ground to mine.
Wait for the sucker to go dormant.
Then bare root it, pot it, and store it in my garage for the winter?

Would it be wise to remove any leaves or cut down the stems at any point during this process to help it survive?

Do I need to worry about to much sun?

Thanks for the help.

I would get as much roots as I could for the sucker. Plant it in a pot and keep it in shade for two weeks.

If possible I would wait until cooler weather, that would help. But if you do it now, Jarrett's advice is good. Also I would cut each leaf in half.

Great advise from Jarrett and Gene. Get a nice sharp shovel and try to dig it up with as many roots and soil as you can and it should be fine! Good luck.( looks like a Celeste by the way. Good find)

Ok, I'll do that. Should I bare root it this winter then to replace the dirt with potting medium?

Thanks.

I tried to transplant a fig tree late last summer and removed the sucker while green in order to have an extra tree. The sucker dried up and died.
I would wait until the tree is totally dormant before I do anything. Once it goes dormant try to remove it along with soil and re-pot by adding new soil.

Hello don_sanders, here's a link to answer all your questions on transplanting a Fig tree.
The Garden Gurus - Fig Tree Replanting

Good luck,
Frank.

Hi don_sanders,
You can do it now; I've done it to suckers that I didn't want to keep.
I potted some and most are doing good. The others will likely get back from the dirt - I didn't want to keep them anyway. So just playing.
I wouldn't use a shovel as you may damage the tree of your ( soon to be former unless) friend.
Simply grab a stem at dirt level with your two hands and pull it. Some may come without roots, but then  just try a second one.
Choose a middle sized shoot. Pull it and remove all but the last 2 or 3 leaves.
Keep her in a shady spot for one week, water every day and then in a half shady spot.
Good luck.
By the way, looks like "hardy Chicago" for me ...But without ripe fruits ...