I made this video yesterday.  This is the 9th tree I did and it happened to be the most root bound.  I really need to sharpen the machete.  I thought it might be useful for others to see the process, as I needed a visual when I first started.  Remember, do what works best for you.  My method probably isn't the best, nor the safest.  :)   Maybe I'll invest in a power saw.

Hi Frank.
Very informative and very easy for anybody to follow. Its the right time of the year for it. I'm going to try to use a recepricating saw while its still in the pot, see how that works?
Thank you for posting.
Vito

Thanks Frank. This is an excellent video!
Great reminder to get started for those of us that have a lot of figs in containers needing up/re potting.
In the past I have tried to untangle the roots and spread them out with a garden claw and then cut the excess.  This appears much easier.

But if going to much bigger pot or to in ground would it help to untangle them first so not to reduce the root mass too much.

Thank you Vito.  I will have to invest in a saw for next year.

Pino, I definitely do not cut roots if I were going into a bigger pot.  And yes, I do untangle the roots when I plant in the ground.

Thanks guys.

Here is PA figs video using a saw.  How easy!

I need to do this to my moms tree. Iit does seem pretty easy. Where does one find a machete?

Meg,

I got mine from Harbor Freight Tools.  It was like $5.

Excellent videos Frank.Thanks for posting. 

Nice work Frank and Nick
Frank, your arms must be quite sore after a workout like that. I also root prune with a sawzall (reciprocating saw) and also use a 12" blade.
This works quite well,and is definitely less taxing on the arms. It is a testament to these fig trees that they can be hacked up like that and come back stronger than ever.
Nice to talk about this stuff today. The wind chill tonight is going down to -20 F. Yikes

:)
 

Thanks, Frank! Harbor Freight seems to have everything! And, $5 is a good price...only thing is, gotta introduce it to my husband slowly. He got passed the grow lights okay but this one may require a little more time. Its a good tool!

Great video Frank.  I was planning on doing a bunch of root pruning in early March.  Bought my $6 Harbor Freight machete and everything.  Video shows me what to expect when I try to root prune that first tree.  I was planning on increasing the pot sizes for most of them but still think I should trim the roots to promote new root growth.

Yes, Eli.  That is how I felt!  haha

Meg - I love HB.  If you are careful with your purchases, (look at reviews online) it's a great place for items such as these.

Bill - I think a minor root prune is a good idea, even in your case.  It's also fun to use.

Hi Frank, my friend got an unknown fig tree about 5 years old potted n a large container, he wanted to know if it is OK to root prune right now (now his fig tree is about to wake up from dormant). Once he started root prune as per your video, can he expect to get figs ripen in this year or not ? Thanks..............

This is the perfect time to root prune.  If he prunes the top growth to balance the root ball, he should still be able to get ripe figs this year.

Very nice video Frank on how to prune roots and I like that you showed how to do it the cheaper way, with a machete, not all people have a reciprocating saw on hand.

On thing I like to add, If you are doing root pruning in the spring or summer, your fig tree will propably be with a lot of leaves, If you just prune the roots and leave the tree with all the leaves intact, you will cause a disequilibrium, because now you will have to liittle roots to provide to a lot of leaves and that will make your tree to go in a state of stress.
So the best thing to do when root pruning and have leaves, is to cut leaves proportionally to the amount of roots you are prunning. If you are pruning roots like the video of Frank, maybe you should cut at least half the leaves to balance the tree. That principle applies to all trees you are root pruning, not just figs.

Great info, mfehmi.  Thank you for that.

Also remember to buy a sharpener for the machete, they normally come very dull!

And for figs sake, watch your fingers!!!

Nick,

You're right about that.  And yes, safety first.  :)
Great video by the way!!