I received a Celeste fig tree for my birthday last weekend (8/27) that is about 4' tall and has 3 main vertical trunks. No horizontal branches yet, just leaves. The new growth from this year was pretty strong judging buy the green stems.

I planted the tree in the ground in a 3' diameter hole using composted top soil I also use in my garden and used 3 support stakes to steady it until it takes root.

Before finding this forum, I read in one place that I don't have to prune at all - another site recommended cutting the tree to 30" from the ground above a bud so that the tree will branch out to the side from the cut.

I hate to prune the tree after I just put it into the ground. Do I need to prune it at all? If so - should I do it now, or wait 6 months (Feb '12) or so while it is dormant (just before Spring)?

I'm excited about the possibilities and the apparent hardiness of this fruit tree.

Thanks!

Thanks. I was just thinking along those lines. It will have about 3.5 months in the ground before the "cold" weather starts to set in. It won't be too large to protect, so I may just add some cold protection on the branches to be sure it survives it's first winter.

Matt....if you do happen to prune (at any time of the year), don't ditch the cuttings because odds are you will find many people (myself included) willing to take those cuttings off your hands.
    What a birthday gift! Happy late birthday.

Matt,

Yes, No, Maybe.

1st consideration: do you want a single trunk, or multiple trunks? If you want a single trunk, you obviously need to prune off 2. If multiple trunks, you are fine.

2nd consideration: do you want a tree or a bush? If a bush, I would prune is next spring, just before it breaks dormancy, to 12-18" tall (what I do). If you want a tree, you might want to go with a single trunk (see above), of let the multiple trunks grow to the height where you want the branches to form.

3rd consideration: if you want to grow it espalier, you probably want to prune it to 2 trunks, and begin training them horizontally.

4th consideration: You may want to encourage earlier fruiting on a little older tree, in which case you would consider "pinching" (search for many post on the subject). Pinching is a form of pruning, that is done at a specific time in a specific way for a particular goal.

5th consideration: on an older tree, you might want to thin interior branches to increase light and ventilation to the canopy of the tree.

6th consideration: If you need cuttings for propagation, in warmer climates you would take them when dormant, maybe as late as January or February. In colder climates where freezing and damage to the branches is a consideration, you might take the cuttings in the Fall before they can be damaged.

Etc.

Pruning is not just one thing. It is done at different times and in different ways to achieve different goals or purposes. After you determine what you want you tree to do, then you will have more clarity on when and how to prune it. I know this goes beyond the scope of your small tree, but thought the bigger picture would be helpful to you (later) and others, maybe now.

I'll upload some pictures tonight so people can see the shape/branches I am starting with.

When I planted, I added some pelletized triple phosphate (Espoma) to the soil around the root ball and a little on top to encourage root growth. Other than that and the composted soil, I didn't add any other fertilizers.

My goal is "fruit production", moreso than landscape appeal, so I'll need to be able to easily reach the fruit-bearing limbs - which makes me lean towards a "sprawling bush" shape. Also - I did not plant it near a structure/wall, so espalier may be ruled out (unless I build supports).

Since this is my first foray into figs, I'm thinking I may just leave it this winter and then prune to 12-18" next year before it exits dormancy for a 'bush' affect.

Here are some pictures of the fig tree I planted. The three main trunks branch out and up from the base.