Our privacy policy has been updated. You will find more information about the measures, the personal data, the reasons and the way in which we process your personal data in our privacy statement.

myGarden.org

Thinning

From end February to begin March    · once

Fig trees often have a short, twisted trunk and grow rather sprawling. Branching begins at a low height. Pruning helps to thin out the plant. Wait to do this until before budbreak (late February, early March) to see if branches have frozen back. Even radical pruning is possible. First, cut back individual shoots that have grown too long. You should also take care to remove shoots that are too dense as well as those that cross each other. Always cut back to one bud or branch. If you simply let the robust shrubs grow for a few years, a veritable thicket will quickly develop.

Older bushes, which after a few years become bald inside, can now be cut back sharply. This stimulates new shoot growth. Those who want to harvest fruit should refrain from such pruning, because figs are formed on two-year-old wood (previous year's shoots). Pruning in the fall is also not recommended because the plants will bleed profusely and lose a lot of milky sap. When pruning your fig tree, be sure to wear gloves, as the plant sap can irritate the skin. To stop the flow of milk, you can spray water on the cuts.