Fig trees: Tips for the correct cut

Content

• Fig trees: Tips for the correct cut
• Carefully prick figs back
• When should the fig be cut?
• Cutting order
• The spring cut
• The cut of an older fig tree
• Cut bucket figs
• The cut of espalier fruit
• Trimming in the first year after planting:
• Follow-up cut in the second year
• The cut in the third year
• Care of the trellis
• Tips & Tricks

Fig trees: Tips for the correct cut

Fig trees also thrive well without a periodic shape cut. Never cut back, a fig tree can reach a stature height of three to ten meters and shade the entire garden with its expansive crown. So that the fruits get a lot of sunlight and mature it is recommended to cut the trees with the big leaves regularly. If the fig is too big for the home garden it can take a strong pruning and willingly drives it out again.

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Carefully prick figs back

In the first years the fig grows bushy with numerous ground-level branches. The aim of the pruning is to build a loose and spacious frame with a beautiful crown. However, do not prune the young tree too much, as the pruning promotes the formation of shoots and at the same time suppresses the formation of fruits.

When should the fig be cut?

The best time for the pruning are the months of February and March, if the fig has not expelled yet. Avoid pruning in autumn, as the cold temperatures of the winter months may cause the branches to freeze back and cause serious damage to the fig.

Cutting order

Plan the pruning thoroughly and follow these steps:

The spring cut

First remove all branches damaged by the frost. Usually only the one to two-year-old branches are affected by cold damage, while the old and mature branches cause little damage to minus grades. When pruning always leave a bud or branching, because these will form a new shoot in the coming summer.

The cut of an older fig tree

Five- to six-year-old figs tend to flatten inside. These trees put a strong pruning, which stimulates new growth, well away. In the year after the rejuvenation pruning, however, you often have to do without the fig harvest, as the fig only bears on the biennial wood.

Cut bucket figs

Potted plants are fully cut compatible and you can easily cut them back to achieve a beautiful structure of the plant. Be careful not to cut out too many biennial branches. So you can expect in the house, conservatory or on the balcony cultivated figs with a good fruit yield.

The cut of espalier fruit

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

Trimming in the first year after planting:

Prune the main shoot of the fig and two side shoots to about 50 centimeters in length. All other shoots completely cut you off. While the main shoot grows upright on the trellis, tie the two side shoots at an acute angle to the main drive on the wires of the trellis.

Follow-up cut in the second year

Choose four strong shoots of the two side shoots next spring. One shoot should be at the end of the branch, another at the bottom and two shoots at the top. Prune or break all other eyes and direct the remaining shoots in the desired direction along the trellis. Keep in mind that fig leaves can grow very large and leave enough room between the guide posts for plenty of sunlight to reach the fruit.

The cut in the third year

Cut the leader a little bit back. The cut is in each case made over a bud that points in the direction of growth. When pruning, leave at least 60 cm from the previous year's wood so that enough new shoots and fruits are formed in summer. During the summer months, break out unwanted eyes regularly.

Care of the trellis

After four years, the base is evenly built and you only have to prune the fig in early spring. As with detached fig trees, first remove frost damaged branches. All shoots that grow towards or away from the wall are completely removed. New shoots in the desired growth direction you cut on one eye. Tie new shoots to the trellis.

Make sure the spadefish does not become too dense, so that the sunlight reaches all fruits equally. During the summer, it is recommended to use extra prune care on very vigorous fig trees, where you cut back new shoots on five leaves.

Tips & Tricks

Before pruning, consider the fig and plan it exactly. Mark all the branches you want to prune. So you avoid missing cuts and do not cut unwanted fruit-bearing, two-year branches with.