I would like suggestions on how to prune these trees. They were small 10-12 inch rooted cuttings from NY in Jul 08. The tall one I believe to be a Brunswick the smaller ones are a black unknown with a red pulp. I am limited to about 10 ft in height due to the enclosure. Please be as precise as possible as i"m new to this. The trees did not go dormant this past year and I had figs in Jan. I'm assuming they will go dormant. Should I prune then or when they start to break dormancy.
How much should be cut
tree form or bush  Thanks
Sal
  

Generally they are pruned when dormant, and you may prune as much or a little as you like. Most trees in my yard are 18" to 24" tall when I am through pruing them - ladders and hills are not a good mix.

Even the tall one in your pix can be pruned back to 24" or so.

New growth can be pinched off during the season to force branching.

What will happens if someone is in a position like Sal with fig trees looking like date palm with branching high up at 6~8 ft and is willing to sacrifice this year fruiting and cut the tree to 18~24" height now for more branching at lower heights. Is there any downside other than no fruiting this year?

I haven't actually done that in mid season, but as long as it is vigorously growing, I can't see any issues except the loss of this years crop. I would not hesitate to do it given the opportunity- I just haven't have reason or opportunity to actually try it.

I would go for it, and probably pinch the new growth at 8" or so and force some further branching later this summer.

I might even give it a fertilizer push a week or so before pruning to rev it up to force out some new growth.

The two long branches had rust which I did not catch in time. I removed the infected leaves and treated with a copper fungicide which seemed to work. I will probably not prune since it does have fruit which I'm not willing to give up. Since this tree put on so much growth the first year should I expect the same growth next year. FL zone10

Thanks Jon
I have two Desert Kings both growing like a date palm in the desert and will prune one of these as mentioned above after a week of fertilization. It should work. I will report later after getting some branching.

Thanks for the advise I guess we are talking about growing these in a bush form. I would like to put one or two in ground but between the nematodes and animals eating fruit it would at the least be to frustrating for my patience. Thanks again.
Sal

Sal,
I do hope that you own some (matching?!) named fig as (one) Sals's Fig....

Gorgi
I would love to acquire this variety it is not available in any local nursery or big box here.I would be more than willing to pay for a cutting if any one can accommodate me please email me at (sgior at bellsouth.net) Thanks
Sal

I mentioned above that I will cut/prune my 5~6 ft high Desert King after a week of fertilization for better branching at the lower part of the trunk. Currently it has good branching starting at 5ft above the soil level.
After a few days of fertilization I changed my mind for a better option. I set it for airlayering at the point just below the lowest branch. This will give me one ready made good branched Desert King plant from the top portion ; and another stick looking trunk that will hopefully branch out. Both plants will have about two months of additional growth this season after separation of the two.

 I had planned on air layering my long branch also but was told to discard the figs on it. Does yours have fruit?  I guess I would have tried if I had more mature trees with lots of figs.
Sal

I have only one fruit on the top of date-palm shape Desert King and I am keeping it.

Dan
I might try it anyway now that I read you didn't remove figs. I have 13 figs on the long branch on the right in picture that is the one I had planned on doing. How far down can I attempt this? I'm in z10 Fl. Should I wait a little longer or go ahead now and hope for the best. I really can't predict when those figs will be ripe. Also how long can you leave the air layer in a bag around the tree?
Thanks
Sal

Thanks Dan.
I appreciate any help I think I might be addicted
I remember growing up in Bx NY. Every family member had a garden and all had one common tree yes it was figs. I never really got involved in gardening till now. I think as I look back on it now that they were always happy doing this up to their last days. The garden was Always one of the main priorities.
I can also remember each member giving others their varieties. They each had their own way of propagating. One would take a cutting and crush One end with a rock hammer or the closet hard object put in any available container with some soil from the garden and say here's your tree. Another would carefully peel bark off the bottom put it in a container and say here's your tree. Another would walk over take a cutting stick in dirt and say here your tree.ect ect.. What I'm getting at is they all had their own methods and if I remember correctly they all worked.
Just regressing I guess
Thanks Again to all
Sal

Thanks for posting & pictures Dan

Looks simple enough.