Comments on: Fig Trees

By: Kenny Point

Kenny Point — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:09:03 +0000

Thanks Angelo, I think that your fig tree will be just fine. Even if the trunk snapped and doesn’t survive the roots will send up new growth to replace it, so don’t worry. That’s funny about the tape; I would probably cut it back right below the point where it snapped rather than bother with trying to tape it back together. Good luck!

By: angelo

angelo — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:15:04 +0000

great site. super helpful. kenny last year i tried tipping my fig tree over to winterize it and it snapped.it may sound crazy but i quickly applied electrical tape around the base. i just uncovered it and gave it the scratch test and it seems ok and green. what is your professional opinion. is it a goner?

By: Kenny Point

Kenny Point — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:06:25 +0000

Hi Ellen, I think that you have a good chance of transplanting the fig tree because they seem pretty hardy and do withstand pretty severe root pruning in situations where they are buried in the ground for winter protection. I would prune the tree back pretty hard before digging it up and it should be okay to house it in a container for a while before replanting. You should definitely take some cuttings about six to twelve inches off the ends of the dormant wood to root as a backup just in case the tree doesn’t take well to being transplanted. Good Luck, I hope your mom’s tree survives and that you are able to take it with you!

By: Ellen

Ellen — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:23:47 +0000

Greetings

I have a fig tree my mother bought for me and had kept it in a pot. When mother died, I took the tree and repotted it into a larger pot. It lived in pots for many a year. Finally we bought a house in Sacramento, CA, zone 9, where we planted the tree. It likes the place it is in and has preformed well. It has been in the ground for about 4 years.

Here is my question: we are relocating and I want to take my mother’s tree with me. Will we realistically be able to dig up and transplant this tree? It is mid- March. The tree is approximately 6′ tall and about that wide. All tips have green swell I can see from the window. I am uncertain how deep the tap root might be and if trying to take it with me will kill it if we don’t get the whole tap root. I read about digging trees up and laying them down for winter so I feel a little more optimistic. How long would it survive when dug up if not put into a hole immediately? Would putting it into another large, really large pot keep it thriving? Would I prune it back a bit?

I hope to save it, but if this is a dream, how would I take cuttings from it? I read about putting cuttings in vermiculite and keeping moist, but what do I cut? I read another post and the man dug down a bit to get suckers – or babies. He said there was a bit of crown and a wee bit of root. His tree looked far smaller than mine.

Should I try getting cuttings as a fall back and try digging up the tree? I would feel bad if it is fairly certain I will kill it if we attempt digging it up.

I appreciate any advise you have as you certainly are wise in the way of plants. Thank you, Ellen

By: connie

connie — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:40:35 +0000

Hello. Just moved to lake havasu city, AZ. Enjoyed all the advice and comments of fellow gardeners. Originally from Alberta Canada. Different kind of gardening now. Would like to plant some fig and citrus trees in back yard. Any advice for this area? Am also hoping to establish a cactus corner focusing on native plants. Thanks for advice.

By: Kenny Point

Kenny Point — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:50:25 +0000

M, I would not fertilize the fig trees until spring. I don’t think that straw around the root ball is necessary. I would prune the tree in the fall to the degree that is needed to make it easier to wrap or bury the plants in order to protect them over the winter months. It’s probably too late to help you now but yes, I would have refrigerated the cuttings and saved the to grow out later towards the end of winter.

By: M.

M. — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:10:51 +0000

Having taken over two fig trees from my “Tata” aka Nonno/grandfather after his passing, my instincts have been to bury the fig trees as he had done – in Late October/November digging a long trench between the two trees, tying them, wrapping LOOSELY with plastic tarp, digging on the side of the tree opposite where they are going to lay, tipping the tree down, covering with plywood over the trench, a layer of plastic with openings for air at the “head” and “foot” sides of the trench, and dirt on top. Location is suburban Chicagoland. There are two fig trees – one white and one black. They are both about 6 feet tall. Questions: 1.) should I add some straw around the rootball in the hole? to prevent the concern I read about rodents, I can lay screen down over the hole 2.) fertilizers recommended and timing? 3.) backfilling of some dirt around the wrapped tree when in the hole? 4.) pruning – not knowing what my grandfather did, would the safest bet be to lightly trim one-half of each tree in the fall prior to burying and then the other half the following summer after fruiting or fall to avoid not getting fruits at all? 5.) having trimmed some 8″-12″ branches today, which I made the mistake of putting into about an inch of water – should I – leave some in the water, cut off the bottom that had been sitting in water and place sticks in the refrigerator, etc? Any recommendations appreciated.

By: Kenny Point

Kenny Point — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 02:41:43 +0000

Mike, I use a liquid organic fertilizer like a fish and seaweed mix to feed my potted fig trees. I don’t do much pruning on the plants and storing the trees in an unheated greenhouse for the winter would be fine. There’s no need to strengthen up or “harden off” the fig trees… just move them outdoors in early spring while they are still dormant, but after temperatures have begun to warm up.