Fig trees also thrive well without periodic topiary. Never pruned, a fig tree can reach a height of three to ten meters and shade the entire garden with its spreading crown. To ensure that the fruits get plenty of sunlight and ripen, it is advisable to regularly prune the trees with the large leaves. If the fig is too big for the home garden, it tolerates a strong pruning and will then sprout again willingly.

Prune figs carefully

In the first few years, the fig grows bushy with numerous branches close to the ground. The aim of the pruning is to build up a loose and wide-branched tree structure with a beautiful crown. However, do not prune the young tree too much, because pruning promotes shoot formation and at the same time suppresses the formation of fruit.

When should the fig be cut?

The best time for pruning is February and March, when the figs have not yet sprouted again. Avoid pruning in the fall as the cold temperatures of the winter months could further freeze back the branches and seriously damage the fig.

cutting order

Plan the pruning carefully and proceed as follows:

  • Always work from the bottom up.
  • Always use clean and sharp tools.
  • First thick shoots near the ground, which would hinder their growth,
    remove with pruning shears or saw.
  • Apply a suitable agent to larger wounds.
  • Then prune thin branches and twigs.
  • If possible, spare two-year-old shoots, as they will bear fruit in the following year.

The spring cut

First, remove any frost damaged branches. Usually only the one- to two-year-old branches are affected by cold damage, while the old and mature branches are less damaged by temperatures below zero. Always leave a bud or branch when pruning, as these will form a new shoot in the coming summer.

Pruning an older fig tree

Five to six year old figs tend to be bald on the inside. These trees do well with heavy pruning that stimulates new growth. In the year after the rejuvenation pruning, however, in many cases you have to do without the fig harvest, since the figs only bear fruit on the two-year-old wood.

Cut tub figs

Potted plants tolerate pruning without any restrictions and you can easily cut them back to give the plant a nice structure. Be careful not to cut out too many biennial branches. You can count on a good fruit yield from figs cultivated indoors, in the winter garden or on the balcony.

The pruning of espalier fruit

Figs thrive when planted on a trellis in front of a sunny house wall. The wires should start at a height of about 45 centimeters and run at a distance of 25 centimeters…

Pruning in the first year after planting:

Prune the main shoot of the fig and two side shoots to about 50 centimeters in length. Cut all other shoots completely. While the main shoot grows vertically up the trellis, tie the two side shoots to the wires of the trellis at an acute angle to the main shoot.

Follow-up cut in the second year

Next spring, select four strong shoots from each of the two side shoots. One shoot should be at the end of the branch, another at the bottom, and two shoots at the top. Prune or pluck out any other eyes and direct the remaining shoots in the desired direction along the trellis. Keep in mind that fig leaves can get very large, and leave enough space between the main branches to allow plenty of sunlight to reach the fruit.

The cut in the third year

Cut back the leading branches a little. The cut is made over a bud pointing in the direction of growth. Leave at least sixty centimeters of the previous year's wood when pruning, so that enough new shoots and fruits form in summer. Break out unwanted eyes regularly during the summer months.

maintenance of the trellis

After four years, the basic trellis is evenly built and you only have to cut back the figs in early spring. As with free-standing fig trees, first remove branches that have been damaged by frost. All shoots growing towards or away from the wall are completely removed. Prune new shoots in the desired direction of growth to one eye. Tie new shoots to the trellis.

Make sure that the espalier fig is not too dense so that the sunlight reaches all fruits equally. During the summer, we therefore recommend an additional care cut for very vigorously growing fig trees, in which you cut back new shoots to five leaves.

tips and tricks

Before pruning, look at the fig and plan it carefully. Mark all the branches that you want to prune. In this way you avoid incorrect cuts and unintentionally shortening fruit-bearing, two-year-old branches.

Category:

Indoor plants