To reduce freeze damage to new in-ground figs this year I plan to try this:

1) Withhold water to encourage dormancy (done);
2) Add a few inches of cedar chips as mulch (cedar chips are also to discourage nesting of mice);
3) Mulch very heavily with straw up to about 2.5 feet (the height of most of the newest figs);
4) Uncover in the Spring when the danger of a hard freeze has safely passed.

I hope this will both protect the younger fig trees from winter freezes and delay bud break some until hard freezes are over.

After a few years the figs fully acclimate to the climate and stop freezing back, but it would be nice to not see them all froze back to the ground the first few years.

So what do you think?  Will this work?  Any suggestions for better ways?  See any obvious problems I am overlooking?

Any comments and suggestions would be very welcomed, and helpful to others as well I am certain.

Best wishes to all.

John
North Georgia Piedmont
Zone 7b

Hi John!

I think the introduction of hay up the plant is asking for rodent attack. Snow buildup around the trunk seems to be a precursor to rodents having access to the trunk itself, and damage occurring.

What I've been doing to protect my trunks with 100% success is taking 6" black plastic drain pipe (the ribbed stuff in the landscaping section), cutting off a 2'-3' section and split it up the middle, spread it open and slip it around the trunk, bury it about an inch in the ground, and mulch around it. I had to do this with all of my plum trees to counter rodent attacks last winter. My trees went from 3' whips to one being almost 14' tall and the other being around 9' tall both with a huge canopy of good branching (I need help to prune properly in February)

I think the black tubing provides a good wind barrier around the trunk and an air insulation gap to protect from freezing.

Thank you Jason.  That is a fantastic idea.  And it also eliminates the concern I had about the figs rooting all the way up the branches overwintering in the wet straw.

And again, congratulations on the new son.  I have three.  You are in for some wonderful times my friend.

And let me know if you need some help pruning in February.

Best wishes.

John

New daughter!  It's confusing, I should have put "she" in the other post.  Avery is one of those fun unisex names that can go either way.  I'm hoping for a boy if we get lucky again, one of each is ideal, I think. 

Are you familiar with pruning plums?  I assume it's not that bad, but I have some reservations about cutting some of the lower branches that are already nearly 1" thick.

I can take pictures of my setup when we get out of the hospital if you would like a visual reference.