When is the best time to prune a fig tree?

Fig Tree Overview

Fig trees are distributed in tropical and temperate zones. They have strong growth potential. The new shoots and leggy branches of young trees can grow to more than 2 meters in the same year. Their germination and branching abilities are relatively weak, but their lifespan is very long, reaching several decades. They are highly adaptable to the environment and have the advantages of fast growth, early fruiting and high yield.

Fig tree pruning time

Fig trees grow vigorously and bear fruit every year. New branches and tillers tend to grow too long. To reduce nutrient loss, fig trees should be shaped and pruned once a year in the winter of November and December. The main focus should be on maintaining the tree shape after formation and shortening the main and side branches.

Figs grow vigorously and continue to grow every year. It is difficult to maintain the ideal plant shape and promote new shoots by relying solely on winter pruning. In particular, fig trees that are mainly used to harvest autumn fruits should be pruned more frequently in summer.

Summer pruning mainly promotes the growth of new buds and increases the rate of flowering and fruit setting. Pruning usually starts around mid-May, and pinching is performed when the fruiting branches grow to about 30 cm to promote flower bud differentiation and the formation of secondary branches and flower buds. Pinching should be timely, otherwise pinching too late will affect flower bud differentiation and the growth and ripening of the fruit.

How to prune a fig tree

1. The time for the first pruning needs to be decided

Fig trees should be pruned immediately after transplanting so that they can enter the growth period early. However, it should be noted that if they are pruned too much immediately after transplanting, the tree will be in danger of being damaged, so a certain degree must be struck.

2. Prune the fruiting branches next winter

At the beginning of the second dormant season of the fig tree, select four to six strong branches and prune the rest. Pruning old branches is to promote the growth of new fruiting branches.

3. The following years

(1) Most pruning work is done in winter. If the fig tree reaches its third winter, most pruning work is done in the last part of the season because the fruit tree is not actively growing during this period. Pruning in winter can reduce the risk of damaging the fruit tree in the early growth stage.

(2) Pinch off new shoots in summer. During June, allow five or six leaves to grow on new branches. After these leaves are fully grown, pinch them off by hand as soon as you see other leaves appear.

(3) Clean up potentially harmful fruits in autumn. In autumn, check the figs and if you see any figs that cannot mature, remove them.

Fig tree pruning precautions

Unformed fig trees can be lightly pruned. Since young trees have fewer branches and relatively strong growth potential, light pruning can promote the growth and development of new shoots, increase the number of fruiting branches, improve the flowering and fruiting rate, retain fruiting branches with strong growth potential, moderately prune overgrown branches and ineffective branches, control the distance between fruiting branches, and prevent them from crossing and affecting ventilation and light transmission.

After the young trees are formed, pruning is mainly to maintain the tree shape, appropriately shorten the extension branches of the main branches and side branches, prune away diseased branches and overgrown branches, leave enough fruiting branches for vigorously growing fruit trees, then lightly prune away the overgrown branches and ineffective side branches to maintain the nutritional balance of the whole plant, and only large branches that cross or are parallel to each other can be appropriately pruned.

When pruning fruit trees that have been planted for many years, the focus is on enriching the base and cultivating a new crown to prevent the fruiting part from moving outward. When pruning these trees, ineffective side branches and branches with weaker growth should generally be appropriately thinned out. Varieties with weak germination ability do not need to be completely thinned out, but instead can be shortened to prevent the fruiting part from moving outward.