Fig Tree Pruning

A fig tree is a large, deciduous tree that belong to the species Ficus carica, and is native to southwest Asia and the Mediterranean regions of the world. It is a picturesque deciduous tree having a smooth gray bark that grows to a height of 20 - 30 feet. The tree has muscular and twisting multiple branches and large, single, bright green foliage. The fig tree grows tiny flowers, usually clustered inside its green fruit. It has green edible fruits which turn purple or brown on ripening, having a white inner rind containing a seed mass bound with jelly like flesh.

Growing Fig Tree

A fig tree grows well in a well drained and fertile soil having high organic content. For an optimum yield, the soil should have a pH somewhere between 6.0 to 6.5. Also the soil should be well moistened but ensure that there is not excess of nitrogen in it. The tree requires sufficient water supply, hence mulch the surrounding soil to preserve moisture else its foliage may turn yellow and drop. If you are growing many fig tress, plant the fig tree cuttings at least 15 to 20 feet apart. Ensure that the plants get full sunlight and sufficient space for growth. For proper maintenance and care of fig trees, fertilize the trees annually but if you have a dense soil, fertilize when the bud swells. In borderline climates, if grown outdoors, make sure that the tree gets proper frost protection else its root may damage. The tree can be harvested as soon as the fruits become soft and start ripening.

Pruning the Tree

Fig tree pruning can be a bit tricky as quite often you may come across situations where you want to prune the tree but are not sure whether to do it or not. The first time to prune your fig tree is while transplanting the young fig plant. During this time just trim the fig tree back by half so that its roots and side branches can develop well in order to grow a bruiser tree. In the next winter, for a healthy yield, you can prune the tree by keeping a few selective branches and cutting away the rest. After the tree is well established, the best time to prune your fig tree is the winter season when it is dormant and not growing. Remove the branches that are not growing, especially branches that have dead or diseased wood. Also shed away the secondary branches, i.e. branches that are growing off the main branches and will not produce the healthy fruit. Finally prune the main branches by ⅓ to ¼ so that the tree directs it energy in producing sweeter and larger fruits for the next season.

Pruning the fig tree basically benefits by improving the fig crop and fruit yield. For better results, avoid heavy winter pruning as this may cause loss of following year's crop. Hence, it is better to prune instantly after the main crop is harvested. I hope the information given above on how do you prune a fig tree proves helpful in growing a fig tree with better yield and tastier figs.