Hey everyone,

I'm getting ready to plant a tree in my front yard, and was wondering how far should it be from gas and water lines? I tried to do a search, but it kept omitting the word "gas" from my search terms...

I don't think it will be a problem, at all.

I dont think Fig roots are invasive enough to be an issue.,

I don't have gas and water line issues but I was wondering how deep to plant them.  I have a couple I would like to plant this week.

jdarden1963 (Jules)...conventional wisdom is to plant the inground tree so that the top of the root ball is about even with ground level...on the other hand, I have taken tall whippy trees and planted them well below ground level (as much as 18") in order to "shorten them up" to a height that was more visually pleasing to me...these trees grew as vigorously as those that were planted at ground level.

I think figs are just like most trees.  don't plant them deeper than they are currently growing in the pot.  If you are concerned about water or drainage build a berm and plant them higher and then mulch around the tree.  That will allow the roots to grow and settle where they are happiest.  

Meghan,

I'm told that fig trees enjoy being planted a few inches deeper than they were grown in the pot.  Figs will readily shoot out roots from their stems when buried (maybe one of the reasons they root so easily) and I haven't had any problems with figs suffering from being planted 3-4 inches deeper.  Here's a link from Texas A&M that seems to echo the thought.  I do it more for cold-hardiness than anything so that the tree has multiple trunks emerging directly from ground level.

Tim

Hello Tamar,
Figs can be planted in raised beds, if digging is a problem. Their roots will grow everywhere, but from all accounts and my observations, they are not very destructive.
Figs can be planted deeper than they are currently growing in containers. They will develop roots on the buried trunk. They do not like wet feet (roots) so that may be one of the only limiting factor to depth. You have to keep the roots above water tables or standing ground water : )

Tim,

Thank you for sharing.  Its amazing how you can hear different information on care from different sources.  I will try planting my next few figs a little deeper and see if I find any difference in performance.  It does make sense since you can start new plants from burying a branch and starting new roots.  So I wouldn't expect it to hurt the tree any.  I would expect the only exception to be is if dealing with a grafted variety.

Meghan

Thanks y'all.  I'm going to plant a couple this week and see how it goes.

I've heard that if you want it to grow more tree form to plant it two inches deeper, but if you want to grow it bush form you should plant it about four inches deeper. I guess the deeper you plant it, the more likely you are to get shoots from the ground?

You guys do not have a clear Idea about planting a fig tree!.
You plant deeper in climates where frost is severe in Winter,and you plant higher , especially in warm,and rainy climates .
In the first situation,is to preserve some growing buds at  base,in case ,the tree is killed,in the second case,is so the plant roots will not rot,from too much water.
You plant at the level it was in pot,only in ideal,warm and dry climates.

Herman2, thank you!  That would explain why I have always heard to plant the root ball level or higher, since I am in hot and rainy Houston. 

Tamar back to your original question concerning gas and water lines.  Plant far enough away so you are sure not to damage the lines while digging the holes.  The roots will not care if there is a pipe in the way.  I do know from experience that it is not good to poke a hole in a gas or water line.

goss