kevint8
1433060860
Posted 1458496925
Reply with quote #1
Where I live, we get pretty strong wind throughout the year and especially towards the end of the summer. Last summer, I lost a couple of young fig trees to the wind (tree snapped in half at the trunk). I took some cuttings from the broken off parts and successfully rooted them. These cuttings have been growing in ground since January and are about 2-3 feet high but are rather lanky. How do I get them to grow thicker trunk so they will survive the gusty wind we get around here? They are slightly larger than a double A battery in diameter right now. Any suggestion is appreciated.
SoCal - Zone 10a
tyro
1305930864
Posted 1458497491
Reply with quote #2
Best practice for Santa Ana's is semi-bush form.Cut it off at 18"-24" from the ground
rcantor
1309799312
Posted 1458499841
Reply with quote #3
If you pinch the top it will encourage branching. Tell us about your fertilizer and lighting, too.
kevint8
1433060860
Posted 1458501622
Reply with quote #4
Will branching encourage the tree to grow thicker trunk as well? I don't use any fertilizer besides the composted cow manure used to amend our clay heavy soil. We live near a dairy farm so occasionally they give out free cow manure soil by the truckload. As far as lighting goes, the trees are planted in a spot where they get at least 8hrs of sunlight a day year round.
SoCal - Zone 10a
tyro
1305930864
Posted 1458502143
Reply with quote #5
Will branching encourage the tree to grow thicker trunk as well? >
kevint8
1433060860
Posted 1458503641
Reply with quote #6
Thanks, going to give pinching a try. Can I cut off the top any time? Right now, all the leaves are growing from the top so if I were to cut the top off the tree will look bare.
SoCal - Zone 10a
tyro
1305930864
Posted 1458505018
Reply with quote #7
Now's a good a time as any.Just make sure you've got at least 3-4 nodes below the cut.
cis4elk
1347840383
Posted 1458507885
Reply with quote #8
Quote:
Right now, all the leaves are growing from the top so if I were to cut the top off the tree will look bare.
nkesh099
1267670012
Posted 1458509576
Reply with quote #9
To obtain thicker trunk- prune branches heavy. Works with any trees not just figs.
kevint8
1433060860
Posted 1458529759
Reply with quote #10
Thanks all for the suggestions. I cut off the top so it's now about 2 feet high from the ground. Should I cover up the exposed top part with something, or can I just leave it as is?
SoCal - Zone 10a
brianm
1389664758
Posted 1458531996
Reply with quote #11
Pruning 100's of Japanese Maples "Atropurpureum" down to 12 inches from 2-3 feet is a tough pill to swallow but necessary. It takes them a whole nother year to branch out . The whip look for most is not aesthetically pleasing. I prefer the branching. Just my 2 cents. Kinda like getting these figs to grow 6 ft tall and like a bean pole. Sooner or later your going to need to whack it back.
kevint8
1433060860
Posted 1458533744
Reply with quote #12
alanmerciaca - Thanks for the tips! I have some Elmer's wood glue laying around so just applied a generous amount on the tip where I had cut it. I am in southern CA, so not worried about rain resistance all.
SoCal - Zone 10a
binbin9
1387923330
Posted 1458582170
Reply with quote #13
I read that silica can also help plants develop thicker hardier trunks. So I experimented on a basil growing hydroponically, I applied "silica blast " to it's regiment of fertilizer on a weekly basis. The stem of the basil was almost 2 fingers thick after a few months. I wish I took a picture of it back then.
Renton, WA My Seattle Garden Blog Fig Addiction WISH LIST: Genovese Nero Rafeds | UCR 187-25 | Black Tuscan | Black Triana | Jack Lilly | Barbillone | St Rita | Tauro | Jin Ao Fen | Lampeira Preto | Any fig over 100grams =)
JoAnn749
1325443625
Posted 1458583028
Reply with quote #14
I would stake the in ground tree for a couple of years for the trunk to thicken so it is braced for high wind.
SoniSoni
1362273241
Posted 1458733075
· Edited
Reply with quote #15
How about braiding fig saplings to develop thick trunks on young trees? I once saw a photo of rows of braided carica fig trees but there was no explanation as to why they they were braided. I thought braiding was purely ornamental but maybe it is also done to produce thicker trunks.. I hope someone who has knowledge of tree braiding would comment.
seeking Galicia Negra, Bianchi Guido, Violette de Sollies, Emerald Strawberry
FigTrees2013
1371525269
Posted 1458753948
Reply with quote #16
You should pinch back green growth on potted trees after about 6 inches of growth, pinch back on in ground trees after about a foot - foot and a half. If you sacrifice on the scale of the crop a bit, you will get a stronger tree.
