I need to prune the roots of my potted VdB this year. I stored the plants in the basement this year. After a small rest, it has already started to leaf out, breba and all. I'm zone 5B in STL & I'm frost free May 10. With La Nina still present, I'm betting that everything is going to be early this year. Saw a saucer magnolia tree in bloom today. I have already pruned my pomegranate in the basement. It look so much better. It has already sent out new shots. I might start to bring up all my potted plants, figs & pomegranate. I'm in full plant mode with all my grow light going. I still need to plant 150 zinnias but I'll have to borrow a shop light just for the zinnias.

I have my bow saw ready to prune if you say, Let her rip! What do you think?

You should have done that before they leafed out to get the best result. Pruning the roots when there is active growth will stall the plant and it might drop figs and leaves if it gets really stressed. If the leaves are still small then it should be fine though.

Life happens while you are making plans. The basement was warmer this year because of La Nina and the figs woke up early before I checked on them.

Yes, life does happen and it's not us in control. I had the same situation happen to me. The shortened winter sure messed up my schedule for my trees and my veggie garden. I was forced to root prune, refresh soil, and re-pot after bud break. Now all are fully leafed out and looking good with no sighs of problems yet. These are trees going into their 3rd year of growth and are in 3 and 5 gallon pots.
"gene"

Well I brought up VdB & pulled off the pot. I guess I thought it would have more roots encircling the pot. No need for a bow saw. I hand pruned it. Got about a hand full. Now to bring up ML and put her in a bigger pot.

Hi

Have you always stored your figs in the basement during the winter?  In past years when the weather was colder, if they were in the basement, how late into the winter before they would break dormancy?

It was in the basement the first year & the garage last year. I noticed it was breaking dormancy in March when it was in the basement. It was just not a cold winter this year. It woke up too soon. I had verbena the winter overed in the garage this year. Even one of my ivy leaf geramiums lived over in the garage. Last summer was so stressful with the extreme heat. I did not want to face it to face extreme winter. So I carried the heavy pot to the basement for a kinder winter nap. Who know La Nina was going to continue and no cold winter?

We are zoned for 5b. So we do get down to -20. I can remember a Sunday in Jan. 1981, it was -18. It killed the battery of one car and we took the other car. We had to drive it over the lawn. Guess which car's battery started?

<----------- Look Left.

I am in Zone 5 also.  I know many members of the forum store their plants in the garage over the winter.  My concern was weighing the added protection from being in the basement against the potential for the plants to break dormancy too early. My garage is not attached to my house and can get very cold some winters.

Our garage is attached. The roof has a ridge vent & the gable end is vented too. I have cut ridged foam to put over the gable vent 12 ft. above ground. It is dangerous to climb the ladder and put the foam over the vent by myself. I have plans to cover the vent in the winter but I'm needing my help to install it. So those plans are on hold. But the heat loss in the garage has to be weighed against the weight of the fig. The weight of the fig is increasing. I'm able to carry it now but if it gets heavier it is out of the question to even bring it to the basement. At that point, the fig may have to overwinter in the garage regardless. I'll start to use minature Christmas lights on a timer at night only for nights below 10. I think the garage is about 15 degrees warmer than outside. 

Thanks for sharing your experience.  I guess I have to choose which way to go for next winter.  I only have cuttings that i have started this year right now.

urgh.. another thing i missed. root pruning. my trees are in 10 gal tub and they are already filled to rim with the roots. i'm cutting down on fertilizer this year, and poke holes into the soil with cut copper tubes.

pete

My neighbour told me his sister stores her fig tree in the garage, and I was going to put all 20 in the basement but it was easier to put in garage, it got down to -6 or -7 celcius in the garage during the winter and even the black maderia and panachees didn't have 1 bit of frost damage, all healthy with about 4 brebas on a one year old Black Maderia, if I had put them in the basement, the coldest it got was 9 degrees and I would've been in trouble.