My main crop figs look like they are started to ripen.  With El Nino ending, we get a lot of rain.  Rain, rain go away already!! I'm having to get rid of the water in the attached saucers. Do any of you move your fig trees to a shelted location to control the moisture?   

A better draining soil might help with perched water to avoid rot or a small tent around the base.. 

If the pots are too big to move easily, can you fashion a plastic skirt around the base of the tree to cover the pot?  That would keep out most of the rain.

Take a contractor grade trash bag and cut it into one big sheet of 3mil black plastic.This works great for keeping unwanted rain out of a container. You can easily move the plastic aside to water.. remember that with a plastic cover evaporation from the soil will be reduced so you can cut back a little on the water..

Does the black plastic produce unwanted heat?

On young plants it can, the plants I have in the picture were from april in my zone it is still quite cold in the evenings that time of year.. If the plastic is put on an established plant the leaves shade the plastic keeping it under control. You will have to monitor your zone and your plants to assure you do not cook your roots during direct sun light in a hot period.

If you can find UV resistant white plastic, it wouldn't soak up the heat like the black will.  I would use white down here for hot weather and black for cooler weather.

noss

Great job Northeastnewbie,
nice to have you nearby. It looks like you are deep into the fig world.
Wish you a happy fig year, Sergio in C.M.C.H. zone 7.