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Big fig tree pruning advice

Nature_SerendipityNature_Serendipity Posts: 15
in Fruit & veg
Hi,

I've moved into a place that has a really big fig tree and I need advice on how to get it under control...

I was looking to leave only 2-3 branches and cutting down to a more manageable height of 6ft but I want to check here first in case I ruin it.

I've marked the below image with red lines on where I'm planning to cut it down and green rings around the ones that remain. I appreciate any advice & also is it too early for the prune?

Thanks,
NS

Posts

  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Quite an issue that we have as well.
    We do prune back crossing over etc branches every other year and larger branches that are "taking over".
    Some years this is successful and we have a good crop the following year. However last year, probably due to the weather, we had no produce to harvest. Hopefully this year will be better.
    Can you allow the tree to fruit this year to see what it produces and then mark the branches that haven't produced anything for pruning back later in the year?
  • rachelQrtJHBjbrachelQrtJHBjb Posts: 819
    Try to prune from the bottom up - easier said than done with a large specimen - as the sap can be an irritant causing skin burn. Always wear suitable protective clothing and gloves.
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    It's best to prune in the winter, before the sap starts rising.  I think you can be pretty brutal without killing it - but perhaps this winter you'd be best to start by removing some of the older, thicker stems, plus anything which is dead, diseased or damaged, being a bit more conservative than your plan... you can always prune it harder next winter, but you can't "undo" over-enthusiastic pruning.   :)
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
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