Although figs are a low-maintenance tree species, every gardener should know how and when to prune their fig tree. Annual pruning ensures that fig trees grow stronger and bear more fruit later. In addition, this is an essential part of tree care and makes the plants less susceptible to disease. Figs are definitely a treat, and planting such fruit trees in the garden can actually be worthwhile if the conditions are right. The following step-by-step instructions and gardening tips can help you do this gardening job more easily and get the best results.
What should you know before trimming a fig tree?
Fig trees are great to grow in a pot, freestanding in a garden or on a trellis against a wall. Their fan-like leaves add a touch of Mediterranean elegance to any garden, patio or courtyard. However, they need a warm, south-facing growing location as the sun is essential for ripening. During the summer, abundant watering is also essential, and fertilizing the tree promotes better fruit production. Although it is not absolutely necessary to prune your fig tree, especially if it is older, it can be done in the early yearsto richer fruit harvestsas well as contribute to the more aesthetically pleasing tree.
Additionally, you can prune young trees into a fan shape by trimming every other young shoot. However, wait until late winter to prune, but get the job done before new growth begins in early spring. Fig trees can grow up to 3m tall and 4m wide, so it is important to prune your mature fig tree to keep it manageable, especially if it has been planted in the ground. Additionally, fig trees produce their fruit on annual wood, so you can encourage fruiting by pruning the old wood. A combination of winter and summer pruning would be most effective.
Instructions for pruning fig trees in winter
Winter pruning is usually done in late January or February, depending on climate conditions, when the fig tree is in its dormant phase. This is the safest time to prune the tree because it will have a small amount of white, milky fluid in the branches. So it's a good idea to wait a little longer. This is how pruning works in three steps:
Step 1 – Remove excess branches from the tree
- First, remove any damaged, broken or dried out branches.
- Then cut off any new shoots that grow directly from the tree trunk.
- First, prune any branches that curve toward the center of the tree's crown.
Step 2 – Thin the growth
The aim of thinning is to allow light and air to pass through to all leaves in all parts of the crown. Thinning also helps prevent the spread of disease and insect infestation.
- First, remove branches that are growing downward.
- Then cut off the branches that overlap with others.
- Thin the crown as much as possible to maintain an even density of foliage in all parts of the tree.
- At the fork, leave the healthiest one extending away from the trunk and cut off the rest. The angle between the two branches should be around 60 degrees.
- The distance around each branch should be at least 20 cm or more.
- Remove all branches that are longer than 35 cm and do not have side or forked branches.
Step 3 – Trimming and Shaping the Fig Tree
- This is the final step and is easy to do. The goal is to keep the crown as symmetrical as possible.
- When pruning the fig tree, start from the outside toward the trunk. This allows the tree to produce thicker and shorter branches.
- Cut back about 1/3 of last year's growth to about 1cm above the chosen bud.
How to prune a fig tree depending on its age and season
- First Year Pruning – Initial pruning helps the tree form a canopy. Only remove one or two branches that grow toward the center of the crown. Start by forming a vase-shaped tree topper.
- When pruned in the second year, the fig trees are only slightly larger, but not yet fully grown trees. At this time in winter you can remove all dried branches, gently thin out the tree crown, trim it and continue to shape it very carefully as you did in the first year.
- Third Year and Further Pruning – In its third year and beyond, the tree is already mature and will hopefully produce some fruit. This is the time when you should begin thorough winter and summer pruning. From now on, you can prune your fig tree and continue pruning in subsequent years following the steps described above.
- Summer or green pruning in late spring and the summer season removes water sprouts (water shoots), which only deplete the tree and do not actually bear fruit. Check to see if these are growing on your tree and cut them off as soon as you notice them. Also remove any leaves that touch the others to keep diseases and pests at bay.
- Summer pruning should be quick and gentle where you remove leaves or branches that absolutely need to be removed. Leave the hard pruning for the dormant period.
Tips on the right cutting tools and care for fig trees
A notable feature of figs is their thick, white, sticky juice. Trimming growth, including picking the fruit, results in the release of sap and can quickly gum up pruning shears and other tools.
- Keep a rag and solvent handy to clean tools after usesharp blades for clean cutsto obtain.
- You don't need many or expensive tools for pruning - use secateurs for smaller branches and a saw for larger branches. You can also consider a pruning saw if you need to remove a very thick branch, but the cut may not be very clean.
- The best option for pruning thicker branches is the bypass pruning shears, which make very good and clean cuts.
- Make sure your pruning shears or secateurs are very sharp. You can easily sharpen the garden tool yourself like you would sharpen any kitchen knife.
- To avoid the spread of disease, be sure to disinfect the pruning shears and secateurs with alcohol.
- Properly dispose of pruned branches to prevent the spread of disease to healthy trees.
- If you cut a branch thicker than 4 cm, you should coat the cut with grafting wax. This will also help you prevent any illnesses.
- Once you're done pruning, apply a winter treatment by spraying your trees with oil sprays to control diseases and pests.
- Add some fertilizer shortly after.
So pruning fig trees is an essential part of caring for the tree. If you don't prune it, the tree will grow irregularly. This is also best done twice a year so that you can look forward to a productive and healthy fruit tree with lots of fruit and lush foliage. Unpruned fig trees therefore have a shorter lifespan.
