Tips for Pruning Fig Trees

You will find a lot of useful tips for pruning fig trees that you can implement immediately. When it comes to trees, one of the best pieces of advice is to learn as much as you can before you try anything. This way you will not be sorry when you prune your fig tree at some later point of time. There are a lot of tips for pruning fig trees. This article gives you a list of tips for pruning a fig tree.

1. Remove all the Dead Branches

The first one of the tips for pruning fig trees that you should do before pruning your fig tree is to remove all the dead or broken branches from around the trunk. This is where most of the potential problems will occur. One of the first things you should do is to choose a good pruning plan and follow it carefully. Once the dead branches have been removed, then you can cut them accordingly. There are many different types of pruning tools that you can use for pruning branches of the fig tree. Choose the pruning tool that works best for you and then make sure that it is sharp.

2. Cut from Base to Top

Cut away excess growth from the base and top of the fig tree. Use a sharp shear to prune out any dead or damaged branches. Do this carefully, since a cleaver will damage the tree if you don’t. Also, be careful when pruning that you don’t damage the root system underneath the branches by cutting too much off. Then, remove any remaining green leaves on the branches. If you want to see more fig growth, you can thin the tree any way you like, by removing some of the leaves.

3. Season for Pruning

One of the important tips for pruning fig trees is that you should not prune the tree in the summer season. The reason behind is that in the summer season, the fig plants get exposed to more sunlight than during the winter season. In summer, they need more water and they are also more vulnerable to fungal infections.

4. Best Time to Prune Fig Trees

Once the spring is over, it is time to prune your fig plants. The best time to prune your fig trees is during midsummer or in early fall. Do not prune the branches during the cold winter season. This will cause your fig tree to lose its leaves. In fall, there is enough time to prune the branches, so they can grow back again.

5. Do Not Cut too Deep

When you are ready to prune the tree, you need to make sure that you don’t cut too deep. Make sure that you also take care not to prune too close to the base of the tree. Another tip for pruning is to make sure that you only cut away part of the branches, leaving the center bit untouched. This way, the tree will be healthier in the long run.

6. Do not Prune Growth Rings

When pruning, make sure that you do not prune growth rings. This is a process by which branches are removed from the main trunk of the plant in order to allow it to grow. However, the pruning must be done at a specific angle so that the pruned growth goes towards the trunk. When you prune, make sure that you do not prune growth rings because they will make the tree appear bushy. This can also result to diseases in the tree.

7. Do not Damage the Root System

Make sure that you are taking out only the ones that are currently broken or damaged. You do not want to end up pruning healthy branches because it will take too much time and effort. It will also mean that you will have to replant the entire thing. When you are pruning, make sure that you do not damage the root system of the plant. If the root system becomes damaged, it could cause your tree to become weak over time, which is why it is always a good idea to make sure that you take out only the damaged parts.

8. Conclusion

It takes time and patience to manage a fig tree. This means that you should also be patient when taking care of the fig tree. You will definitely need to do some maintenance on your fig tree from time to time, such as removing splinters of wood. The best part about pruning your fig tree is that you will get to use some of your own creative ideas. The most important thing to remember is that your fig tree is not a toy, and like all other fruits, it requires maintenance in order to remain healthy.