How to Prune Fig Trees For MAXIMUM Fruit Production [Includes Little-Known Tip Towards The End]
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ม.ค. 2023
- Through experience, I wanted to share some great overall insights on how to prune figs to get the most fruit out of your trees!
Enjoy.
I wish more videos were made like this. No drama,.no property tour, background music and 15 minutes to get to the point lol. Please make more.
I don't listen to videos and these images had no content so fail.
Gee, thanks for sharing :(@@waynemasters8673
I add my praise on the clarity of this video. I have a fig tree in a pot, now its second year, and was eyeing it with dismay this morning as there is no sign of any growth other than at the very top. Hit on your video totally by accident - first one that came up - and I am so glad I watched it. Thank you from the Czech Republic.
This is the best fig pruning advice I have found on TH-cam. Thank you!
Really glad it helped!
That is such an excellent presentation! Clear, concise, and straight forward. Well done. Off to prune right now.
Lovely greenhouse you have. This video is very helpful, I look forward to having a more fruitful fig tree. Thank you!
I searched several video on trimming fig trees, this is best clear and no bs!! I do have those long branches, I am going to trim too and encourage side branches! Thank you
It's not "energy" that makes the lower buds develop, it's growth hormone.
Also, you can spray any dormant bud with gibberellic acid (a natural plant hormone) to stimulate branching.
Now I know how to prune my fig tree. It's getting very tall. Thank you. New subscriber too.
A really excellent video. We have a holiday house in France, and our large fig tree needed pruning. I checked several presentations but yours was, by far, the clearest. We have completed the pruning, so fingers crossed for a good harvest when we return.
Glad it helped. Wishing you a good harvest as well!
Best logical video on pruning
More nods more potential branches more fruite ❤
fantastic information. Thankyou
Wish I had your teaching skills. That was very informative! 🙏👏
This is a good video. I will not be pruning what I thought was too many branches on my baby fig tree here in NW. ID.
thumbs up for the cat sleeping ^^
oh! and great green house dude
thnks for the drowing! I can understand things better when i see drowings
Great vid, the quality and quantity of info in such a short time is fantastic!
Thank you. Really appreciate that.
Thank you! We have our first mission fig here in the SoCal desert. I want to encourage it to stay low and fruitful. Super helpful!
You are the best, thank you so much for sharing this video with us.
OMG finally a clear explanation of why and how. Thank you! I'm glad that you have a way to grow figs in Colorado. I grew up there and would have never hoped to eat fresh figs there!!!
Totally. It's such a blessing to have the greenhouse. Thanks for the kind words.
Thank you! Excellent tutorial for someone like me has just started growing figs in NH.
I'm in NH as well and just started a fig this year.
@@trevors7905 Hi Trevor, I am in southern NH, right over the Mass border. I have 4 fig trees in containers. They are loaded with figs, but unless we get lots of sun, this season may be a washout. Feel free to ping me if you want to compare notes. Best, Sergio
@@sergiocozzone1927 Hi Sergio, I'm in central NH / lakes region. I purchased a fig from Lowes - a twig which I didn't think would leaf out it looked so bad. It eventually produced leaves and is in a pot at the moment. 🤣
Thank you. Very helpful.
Great tips, thanks!
Excellent points
love your greenhouse
Best advice ever.
Great video! I wish I'd watched it before the few clips I made. Fig was given to me 3 years ago in a pot. Planted it in a sunny spot, and with fingers crossed, I wrapped it well, both winters. Then, last winter, I didn't cover it (zone 7a) and hoped for the best. It made it! Leaves are opening. My question is about pruning leaves coming out at the base of the tree. It's about 5 ft tall. Thank you for any advice you may have.
Great video! Thanks!!
Excellent advice. Summer pruning is important as well as winter pruning though.
We feel it's most ideal and healthy for figs to be pruned in the winter as they have ample time to scab and heal up before pushing growth.
That said, figs are resilient and respond fine to proper pruning anytime you have to cut them back. We do pinching in the summer months as well, which can be found here, in case interested:
th-cam.com/video/a625EYGMIh4/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the input!
Very helpful.
Hi! Thank you for posting this super helpful video and sharing your knowledge with people like me... an eager but unseasoned greenhorn fig tree lover. My family planted a Black Mission Fig Tree and I have a specific question about leaders that I'd like to ask you. May I send you an email with a picture to illustrate my specific query? Thanks! :)
I am in northern Ireland where there is no summer , apart from a few days a year 😂. Anyway Lidl was selling a fig tree 2 months ago and I bought one. Today I was surprised, even without sun there are some baby figs growing
Awesome. The warmest, sunniest and dryest area of your property is best. For example, across a wall facing the sun that gets slightly warmer, etc. I think you can still do great though. Some varieties that I think would do extra well for you: Ronde De Bordeaux, Hardy Chicago, Dessert King.
Blessings!
well made video cheers
Damn, your plants have a house and i don't! 😭....great video btw, very clear and informative 👍
I'm sorry to hear that, my friend. I hope you find the help that you need. Your life is so valuable.
Did your bruising on the low stem encourage growth as you had hoped?
Exactly what I was looking for. I have a baby Celeste in ground. One branch is much longer, so I think I'll tip it and hope everything else catches up.
Right on!
Thank you
Many thanks for the tips! Very clear explanations! I have very few figs, because of lack of pruning. Do you take on consideration the moon phases to cut the branches?
Thanks and glad it helped. No I have not. That would be an interesting search though.
A very easy language used dsecribing the purpose theme behind
❤❤❤❤❤ thanks
Excellent tutorial. Thank you. What temps do you get in your greenhouse? Is it heated or just passive?
Thanks! I have a climate battery (subterranean heating and cooling system, which I outline a bit more in another vid), but long story short, I no longer really use it. It is mostly passive, and I allow it to get down to as cold as 30 degrees-ish. If it is extreme cold outside (below zero), I will intervene with a heater. This does not happen too often.
I have figs out of doors in northern Illinois
Thank you for his video! Did you show , next to your fig tree, a branch of the pomegranate tree as well? If yes, does it produce the pomegranates as well? How do you care for that one? 😊
You are very welcome. And yes -- I do a video on the pomegranate here:
th-cam.com/video/bLVZAxmCeRs/w-d-xo.html
But they are quite easy to grow -- possibly even easier than figs. Some watering, and just prune it to the size you want to keep it at.
Thank you for this nice overview on fig pruning. I have a fig tree (Seattle) that is decades old and way too tall. It has one large diameter (10 inches) trunk that extends from the ground to a height of 6 feet and then branches from there. Almost all the figs are out of reach. Is it safe for me to saw the tree down (in the dormant season) to a height of 1-2 feet and let it regrow from there? Thanks again!
I'm not that I would go quite that low, but then again, figs are very resilient and seem to respond well enough to most any type of pruning. As long as there are nodes / places for new growth to emerge, you should be fine. I might recommend that you look up pruning techniques called coppicing and pollarding.
That might be able to give you some guidance. Hope that helps at all.
Such an amazingly helpful video. I finally put my potted figs in the ground after seven years and they grew about five feet in one season! Do you have tips for wrapping the trees for the winter? (We live in New York). Thanks!!
Glad it helped. : ) I am from Long Island originally. You can do what I've seen them do there for years, which is to tie up the tips of the branches in order to make the tree more narrow, then wrap it with layers of tarp.
My personal favorite way, though, is cutting the tree a little bit to make it shorter, then wrapping the outer circumference with wire fencing/caging, then filling the entire thing with mulch. That seems to do the best job, but you might not have to do that much, depending on where exactly you live.
Hope that helps at all.
@@TheIntegratedGardenwe’re in the Hudson Valley. When you say “mulch” do you mean wood chips? How about hay that the horses didn’t eat? 😂
@@jomen1229 Yes -- mostly wood chips, twigs and leaves. You can typically get it free from local tree service companies.
Hay might work ok too though!
@@TheIntegratedGarden thanks for the tips!
Helpful video! When do you suggest pruning (season, seems youre doing this only in dormancy?). Also for youbg plants in pots do you allow seceral years before or suggest pruning to encourage branching early? Thanks!
Really, the short answer is you can prune figs at any time, but technically the best is during dormancy when things are not flowing. But figs are very resilient and respond very well to pruning. I sometimes pinch the tips off during the summer growing season in order to spur on more bushy growth and fruiting if getting out of hand and too tall. You do not have to wait several years to start pruning, either. Just prune whenever you feel the shape of the fig tree is getting out of hand or not to your liking. Hope that helps. :)
very helpful ! a couple of questions ... do you start pruning like this with a young tree and what size pot are you using for these big figs ? thanks
It all depends on how fast and well those young fig trees are growing. When they are shooting up tall, fast, is when you want to start implementing this (whatever the age). They will usually adjust accordingly. Just be sure to prune during the dormant season if you can, especially for young trees.
I believe my large potted figs are all between 5 and 10 gallon. Hope that helps.
@@TheIntegratedGarden Thanks bunches !!
....Great Video - Thank you -- - I'm just lil uncertain (in calif) the appropriate time to start "lopping" off the tops - November is even quite Warm here in Zone 10b -
Thoughts? / Comments? Thanks
Yea -- great question, and greetings! Love your climate. : ) I would say the time of the year that the figs are most dormant is the right time. In some rare cases within these warm climates, the figs may not even loose their leaves. But even then, if you observe, you will often sense when the tree is at least slightly dormant. Doesn't have to be perfect, but the more dormant, technically the better.
Hopefully that helps.
Yes yes yes....great tips and info! thank you.
SoCal Winters are really felt when nite time temps drop into 40's-50's and the change of the sun's "angle" significantly less hours sun per day!
This winter my to-do list is .......up-potting / Root pruning and pruning! Thanks for the reply!
❤👍🙏
Great video, a couple of questions: I am in the North East US and have two indoor potted fig trees that are very long and leggy. What is the best time to prune them? It is only Feb now but they already have many leaves and one fruit at the top. is it too late to prune this year? Will I kill it if i prune the tops/leaves off? thank you
Are they indoors all year long? Ever see them go dormant?
Short answer is no, you will not kill your fig by lopping it down (to encourage more bushy growth) during active growing. It might not be the most ideal time, but it will be ok.
I do find that figs don't do as well indoors without at least a short dormant (cooler/darker) period. I do a video about that here, in case interested: th-cam.com/video/nRzAcaWtbZs/w-d-xo.htmlsi=b9I67nhGrape3SpC
But hey, that is great if you can get it growing and producing! Thanks for watching and hope that helps at all.
Thank you! I do take them out for a couple months in summer. But they are indoors for a good 7-8 months. I will trim them this weekend:)
love your cat. Question, do suckers give fruit?
My cat thanks you :) and yes, typically suckers do eventually fruit, as they become like the rest of the tree.
I wonder if bruising will work for pear trees too? I have an Asian pear growing in a shrub but I’m trying to espalier it. Thanks I’ll be pruning my fig better.
Hmm. Great question. It probably doesn't hurt to try. Only thing is, maybe check to see if you have a heavy problem with fire blight in your area. It is an airborne bacterial disease that affects apples and pears. Cutting/bruising, especially during the active growing season, can make your tree a bit more susceptible to it.
Hope that helps. : )
Nice video. I'm new to growing figs. Live in Denver zone 6a. What is your zone??
Thank you.
Greetings, my friend! That's amazing. Im in Denver as well (Wheat Ridge).
I'm rooting fig cuttings right now -- same variety in the video. I can probably get you a young plant this Spring if you want to stop by.
@@TheIntegratedGarden that's nice of you. Would be happy to visit your garden and see the Fig trees. I'm also rooting some cuttings that I bought on line. Perhaps we can barter. Thank you.
Where in Colorado? I'm in Denver and trying to grow figs for the first time.
In pots obviously. If you are nearby, I'd love to visit the fig trees. Thanks
I am in Wheat Ridge. Absolutely. I have a rooted cutting from these trees if you'd like. 303-905-4589 - Evan
@@TheIntegratedGarden Awesome. I'm near Ken Caryl. I'll text with you and plan when I can come that way.
I'm trying to root some cuttings but 4 died due to root rot already. Hope to save few others so I'd really appreciate any fig plant.
Never seen fresh figs so this is exciting.
@@sunnysgadgetreviews5886 Definitely. Feel free shoot me a text. We're busy, but also flexible, especially if we have multiple time/day options.
after the a branch was finished producing fruits, should I cut it back or remove the terminal ends to encourage side branching on that fruited branch?
Yes, both cutting it back and removal of terminal ends will help encourage more side growth.
FINALLY a very informative video of how to prune a fig tree.
HELP...possoms are eating all the figs on my tree. I don't know how to stop them. I bought rodent repellent (not poison) and put a net over the tree, but because my tree has many branches at the base, they get under the net....HELP!
Thank you. That is a tough one, and I don't deal with possoms where I now am, but raccoons, which are very smart. Best resistance i have found is netting WELL PLACED and thought out. Perhaps try and find out where they are coming under and secure it fully.
Ahhhh! HELP!
My LSU Gold fig was started in mid June as a 4' tall blank "stick". I figured it would die, quite honestly. But, it's turned into "The Little Shop of Horrors Alien Plant". It's spreading more like a bush...a HUGE bush! I have about 100 green figs on it ATM and need assistance on how to prune this monster into some semblance of an upright habit.
when show i prune my tree? Live in NY - zone 5. Usually wrap my tree in Dec
Anytime after the leaves have completely fallen off the tree (dormancy), so in your case, you can probably prune it shortly before you wrap it.
Kitty!!
I've done similar and have a healthy tree with lots of sun but no fruiting. Tree 4 yrs old.
@@baileystruss7319 Hmm. You might try pinching. I did a video on it here:
th-cam.com/video/a625EYGMIh4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=YICh9fw0xfCX5WIW
Also, perhaps a high phosphorus fertilizer may help spur on fruiting as well.
Très intéressant, j'ai cherché à traduire sur google en français pour bien comprendre..
I have an lsu purple fig tree. I have it potted inside. This is its 3rd year. It has never gone dormant. I just transplanted it to a bigger pot and it has grown 2ft, straight up! I don't know where or how to prune it... I'm scared of hurting it! Any suggestions?
That's amazing that it's never grown dormant!
It is ok to prune figs when not dormant, so I would just prune it the way you need to. If it is getting two tall, just lop off some of the top. That may also stimulate more side growth. It may "bleed" a white latex substance. This is normal.
Do figs grow on old growth or do they always need new branches to produce fruit?
Both, actually. Most varieties grow a lighter, early summer crop on the old wood called the Breba crop. Then at the end of the summer they grow the larger main crop on the new wood.
In your opinion (devil's advocate) what are the benefits of cutting a fig tree/bush down to the ground and covering it with hay or wood chips?
@@caburtnett1980 I actually just tried that and was successful with it in Zone 5 Colorado, so I'm a huge fan of it. Only thing I'd say is cutting back, not all the way down. You want to retain some of the branches in order for the fig to pop back well and bear fruit. I did a recent video on it here:
th-cam.com/video/NLs3ooAUZo4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=fabaZPJgeuEjYyUA
@@TheIntegratedGarden So I'm zone 6/7 SE PA. My mom is only 5' and 80 so I want her to have a lot of figs that she can reach. Thinking the fig tree will be more bushy than tall... I DID NOT KNOW figs are different from others and SOME can grow 6 to 15 feet in a season🤯
So I have 2 on my mom's property and thought, figs only grow on new growth and I just have to cover the plant nodes like my grapevines. I left 6 to 10 inches and covered with hay from the bales I have left over from Halloween.
The one is already 10' tall full of new branches and the other is about 4/5' tall and about 7' wide.
Not saying this is a method for everyone, but definitely a bigger difference than the prior year. Just waiting for figs now.
I have a 3rd fig I want to try growing as a single trunk, more like a tree about 15' tall.
We'll see🤙
@@caburtnett1980 Nice!!! Good to know and thanks for sharing!
When is good times to tip off or pruning?
The winter months of dormancy are best.
Could i also cut the fig in April?
Yes. You may see it "bleed" out a little (white latex substance), but it will stop quickly and should do just fine. Figs are very resilient and will adjust quickly to the direction you give them.
I have a 10 year old fig tree that's never been pruned. It's 15 feet tall the 3 main trunks are baseball bat sized. How far down on the main trunks can I lop off without killing the tree?
Thanks for commenting. First off, even if you were to cut the trunks so far down that the tree is not able to grow back from the trunk stubs left, you still probably would not kill your tree. Figs notoriously come back from the root underground. So that's good :).
But regarding most of your question, I would look for any sign of nodes (spots where new branches can come out from). It can be quite subtle that far down on the main trunks, but sometimes they are still visible. If you can locate one, make the cut just the above it. That will give them a great place to sprout new growth. So basically, as far down as you would like, especially if there are visible nodes still left. Hope that helps.
@TheIntegratedGarden Can I plant the tops I cut off and expect them to take root? The main part is 4 inches around and 7 foot tall if so how deep should I dig hole?
Wouldn't hurt to try. Most recommend rooting cuttings that are much thinner and smaller... Think like a Sharpie marker. You would be at a huge advantage if you can get such a section to root, though. If you live in a mild, humid environment, just stick a few sections of it (I wouldn't do the whole 7 ft length at one time, maybe just a foot or two) into the ground, with the soil pressed firmly around it and see what happens. The more warm and humid the better. You can always tent them with partially transparent plastic of some sort to maximize your chances. Or root them in potted substrate inside.
@@TheIntegratedGarden should I prune off long skinny ones coming off main trunk at or below ground level or leave them alone? I got the main trunks ptlruned back down from 15 feet to 6 feet.
@@davidguy1555 would remove them. It's going to be a long shot, but I hope it works for you.
Can I cut the leaves? when is green
For what purpose?
to grow bigger. MY fig tree no fruit @@TheIntegratedGarden
Can you get back with me , I live in Westminster Co. Jim
Hey neighbor! What can I do for you? Did I miss another one of your comments or something?
Does it matter when you prune should you do it when they are dormant or when there growing
For most fruit trees, the best time to prune by far is during the dormant season. Figs are no exception to this, as they "bleed" a lot of their latex substance.
However, if necessary, I feel that you can still prune figs during the growing season. They are very forgiving and not very susceptible to diseases.
I live it when someone takes the time to do a lil diagram… I find it so so helpful. My fathers always drawn me a picture when I’m not understanding 😅😅🥹🥹
Totally agree. Thanks :)