I had posted in mid June in the thread “Pruning question with pics” that I do not like the date palm like growth of my Desert King which had multiple branching starting at around 3.5~4 ft height.  So I decided to air-layer the branched top part. Here are the results.

One picture shows both sections side by side on the table top; the branched top section (now potted) and the lower trunk section with new shoots growing fast.

The other picture shows the same top branched section (now potted) on top of the table and the lower trunk section (now well branched) on the ground as the two sections were positioned before separation.

The air-layered top part did lose some leaves during the one week heat wave (Thread: Forecast for a rare glimps of real summer) but then stabilized and now new shoots are appearing.

I am not sure if the bottom trunk portion now branching out will be able to produce brebas next year.

The above results were encouraging so I did the same to another date palm shaped tree. I just separated the top layered branched section a couple of days ago. The picture of the top section is shown below. The lower trunk section is still in the buried pot. I hope it will start branching out soon.

We are having a cool and cloudy weather these past few days so the leaves on the top separated portion have been holding well.

Great job the original post was mine and last week I finally did the air layer as most figs had ripened. I sill have at least 2-3 more months of warm weather. I followed Leon's method. Hopefully it will take.

 100_2696.JPG (857.40 KB) - Today
 100_2697.JPG (875.71 KB) - Today
 100_2698.JPG (766.91 KB) - Today

I guess we both decided to take similar steps.

Looking at your pictures I would have been tempted to air layer a little higher. The lower trunk portion would have shooted at a number of places over its length. But you know your reasons better so good luck.
When it is time to separate the air-layered part, do it when you are expecting a period of cool (preferably moist) weather to avoid set-back of the air-layered part and leave it in a shady place for a few days.