Pruning suggestions for VERRRRY LEGGY fig

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mjbaransky

Registered:1371235341
Posts: 64

Posted 1462234331	Reply with quote #1

I have 2 figs that are in Pots. I JUST brought them outside from the basement. They have been leafing out in the basement... and have dropped some leaves probably due to not having a lot of light. 1. Now that I have them outside... I have a lot of green stems, but FEW leaves. (since they dropped off)... will the fig tree leaf out again? 2. My fig trees are VERY leggy. They have many shoots, but not a single leader... so the growth habit is extremely BUSHY and irregular..... as you can see from my picture. What are some of my best options on how to deal with this.... I am thinking that this growth habit will not make for an attractive plant. __________________ In Pots: Ronde De Bordeaux, Black Mission, JH Adriatic, Sals El Gene, Celeste (EL), Black Madeira, Sumacki, White Marseilles, Lebanese Red, Persian White, Genovese Nero Zone 6 - Nazareth, Pennsylvania, USA. (Lehigh Valley - Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton)

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,712

Posted 1462235101	Reply with quote #2

Wow, I've never seen such leggy growth. I'll be honest and say I've never dealt with that extent of legginess. Take this with a grain of salt, but I would prune the branches, even the hardened wood, all the way down to about 15" and start over. The new growth will appear from the old nodes and they'll be nice and strong. Wait for more comments though. __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

barnhardt9999

Registered:1351699779
Posts: 183

Posted 1462236472 · Edited	Reply with quote #3

I'd prune at the red lines and hit it with a nitrogen heavy fertilizer. __________________ 8a

figpig_66

Registered:1416870358
Posts: 2,678

Posted 1462237232	Reply with quote #4

I would take advantage of a strange situation ( your tree that is with spider legs. ) cut nothing and weave them together. They will look very cool then eventually grow as one trunk. Doesn't appear that it needs any fertilizer! !! Lol. May have to trim off some side branches if they get in your way. Now if it is,a rare fig you may not want to go this route. ;-)) GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR TREE. RICHIE LOUISIANA __________________ RICHIE BONI HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity Wish list. Col de dame blanc Col de rimada Lsu numbered figs

FigTrees2013

Registered:1371525269
Posts: 66

Posted 1462237744	Reply with quote #5

They were reaching for indirect light in the basement. Sometimes I get this problem as well. Those branches will not be strong enough to bare fruit this year. I agree with the first two responders - cut everything back. I would definitely even cut back the hard wood so that there are no branches thinner than a pencil in thickness. The tree will be better for it. When new green shoots appear again, they will be thicker and they will be stronger. Only let them get to be 6 inches long before you break them off. __________________ Zone 6b

mjbaransky

Registered:1371235341
Posts: 64

Posted 1462237988	Reply with quote #6

I agree that there was some reaching for light.... but also - if you look at the base - they had these 'shoots' coming out before I put them in the basement. __________________ In Pots: Ronde De Bordeaux, Black Mission, JH Adriatic, Sals El Gene, Celeste (EL), Black Madeira, Sumacki, White Marseilles, Lebanese Red, Persian White, Genovese Nero Zone 6 - Nazareth, Pennsylvania, USA. (Lehigh Valley - Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton)

Tonycm

Registered:1314411773
Posts: 922

Posted 1462282904	Reply with quote #7

I would have to agree with Frank and Barnhardt. Do some severe pruning and cut them way back to good wood. If they were mine I think I would cut them to about 6-8 inches and let them regrow. All the leggy growth will be weak and unable to support any fruit. After you prune them keep them in good sunlight and the new growth will be thicker and stronger. __________________ Zone 6a Sarver, PA Wish list; Rafed's Genovese Nero

andreas

Registered:1401724296
Posts: 372

Posted 1462309498	Reply with quote #8

if they are realy good ones airlayer them. if not cut them way back and start over __________________ andreas-patras Patra Peloponnisos Greece zone..9a

Sas

Registered:1350079929
Posts: 1,363

Posted 1462311507	Reply with quote #9

The way it looks, I doubt that you will see any fruit this year. It does need some serious pruning. I would do it now and with some heavy feeding, you might get lucky and see some fruit later this summer. __________________ Sas from North Austin TX Zone 8B Wish list: Becane

SuperMario1

Registered:1441853363
Posts: 441

Posted 1462329483	Reply with quote #10

I'd leave that thing alone and let it adjust to the sunlight. Once it gets going again it should look unique. That growth would probably look really cool on a terrace or something once it put on more growth and filled out some. __________________ Wish list: Galicia Negra, Violetta, Violette de Sollies, Dan_la's Black Beauty 10, Craven's Craving, Most important: YOUR FAVORITE FIG. A lot of people put emphasis on popular/exotic cultivars, which is great because it highlights some of the better fig varieties; however, I am most interested in the figs our members love regardless of pedigree. Currently Growing: a bunch of varieties.

figeater

Registered:1446540443
Posts: 92

Posted 1462347045	Reply with quote #11

I know very little about figs, but if it were an apple, I would cut it back to the lowest upward-facing bud. __________________ Casey Battle Ground, Wa /Zone 8a

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1462435017	Reply with quote #12

Hi, I doubt that this growth can be of any use. Usually, it gets sun burned and its lost. I would go like Sas . Cut all those leggy shoots and a bit more - shape it, since you're cutting . And hope for something at the end of the season. Newt years, try to get her out before she breaks buds. That's what I do. I'd rather have some die back than have leggy growth - since I mainly rely on the breba crop. __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

m_delgo

Registered:1461165600
Posts: 15

Smyfigs

Registered:1443660141
Posts: 1,658

Posted 1462468846	Reply with quote #14

Cool looking... __________________ Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a Looking for... Socorro Blk Wuhan Jolly Tiger Lamperia Preta Herschtetten St. Jean Black Ischia "The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa "Do not pass by a man in need for you may be the hand of God to him." ~Proverbs 3:27~ "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." ~Job 5:4

Frankallen

Registered:1371842383
Posts: 994

Posted 1462487297	Reply with quote #15

I have never seen a Fig Tree that looked like this? I really don't think it will be any good. Why don't you just order a Fig Tree and plant it in a 5 gal bucket with holes punched in! That way you will possibly get some fruit this year. : ) __________________ Frank from Bama- Zone 7-b Alabama .................................................... "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever". Mahatma Gandhi

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