The ideal time to prune a fig tree It is at the end of winter, when the frosts have finished (or the risk of them) and just before they begin to sprout. The fig tree is a tree that does not support acidic soil, so you will have to choose the land where you plant it well.
Also, keep in mind that when the figs come out, a good part will fall to the ground, since the fig trees are very fruitful and produce abundant figs during their flowering season (spring-summer). For this reason, it is better not to plant a fig tree near the door of the house or an area of passage that you want to keep clean because you will always step on them. Next, from a HOWTO, we explain how to prune a fig tree so you can keep your favorite tree in optimal conditions.
Steps to follow:
1
For prune a fig tree we have to start by cleaning the root zone. Around the trunk of the fig tree all kinds of plants and weeds sprout that take advantage of the irrigation of our fig tree to feed themselves; what we have to do is start by removing them.
Make sure the area is clean by clearing the area around the trunk of weeds and cutting off the stems or branches of other plants with the pruning shears. Remember to protect your hands with some gardening gloves.
2
Prune the lower part of the fig tree, cutting from its base all the branches that come out from the trunk, below the crown of the tree. Do the same with twisted or twisted branches, those that you see that instead of growing naturally towards the light, they do it towards the sides or towards the ground
And don’t forget, of course, about remove dry or rotten branches that could be throughout the entire tree. Of course, we recommend that you go in parts: The fig tree, like most fruit trees, is pruned from the roots to the tips.
3
Prune any cross branches in the crown and the rest of the tree. For sanitize a fig tree You must ensure that light can enter through its canopy, so that all the leaves and parts of the tree receive sunlight and can feed on it.
The crossed branches are those that, instead of going outwards or upwards, they do so towards the inside of the crown, crossing with the others and generating tangles and a leafy crown, but in shade. If you want make fruits of your fig tree grow, You must prevent this from happening, and that the top of the tree breathes and goes towards the light.
4
Climb the fig tree to prune the inside of the crown in deep. Take care of your fig tree branch by branch to carry out an effective pruning. Your goal is, as we say, that sunlight reaches everywhere. Therefore, take a ladder or face the tree (carefully) to cut, with the help of scissors, all the branches that go towards the ground or into the fig tree.
5
Finally, so that figs appear evenly throughout the tree, look at it from the ground and notice its shape. Check that there is not one side that protrudes more than the other and if not (which is normal) calculate before climbing again which branches you will have to cut to achieve a balanced and uniform crown.
In this part it is good to be accompanied by another person who can help you see what branches to prune from your fig tree so that good figs come out.
6
This form of pruning that we have explained will result in a fig tree with a good shade canopy. If you have a fig tree that you want to use to sit and read underneath in summer, the one we have been explaining is the ideal way to prune it. However, for collect well the fruits of the fig treea, there are other ways to prune and take care of it so that the branches grow closer to the ground and it is easier collect figs.
Other ways to prune a fig tree
Actually for get a low fig tree we have to work it from the beginning and follow these steps:
- Plant a fig tree cutting in a hole in the ground. The bigger the hole, the bigger the fig tree.
- During the first year we will have to cut the shoots of the cutting and leave a main one, stronger and thicker, which will be the trunk.
- In the second year, we will see if the fig tree has reached the height we wanted and we will cut there to always keep it at the same height. We will allow the branches to grow wide but not tall.
- In the third year, we will already have the structure formed. We will carry out a normal maintenance pruning, eliminating the shoots that we are not interested in keeping because they come out turned or take light from the trunk.
At oneHOWTO we tell you how to plant a fig tree step by step.
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Advice
- Keep the shape of your fig tree at bay so that it grows healthy and strong.
- Prune twisted and dull branches.
- At the end of pruning, water your fig tree with plenty of water and potash-rich fertilizer to nourish it.