How to Prune Fig Trees & Root Prune || Black Gumbo

[@mattpeacock5208]

You treat that potted fig tree like a Japanese Bonsai master sir!

[@plants4thewin]

Best video on how to prune fig trees. I have a really young one that is growing as a bush and I had no idea what to do. Thank you!

[@itsasickness4939]

Had to come back a year later and thank you for this one.. a little over a year ago I went on a mission to find a “Black Mission “ fig. Should’ve been easy considering 30 years ago just about every home in New Orleans had one... it was not! Well I finally find this sickly looking specimen at an estate sale that still had the tag on it. When I say sickly I mean it was cracked half way up, starting to rot at the base and had some kind of fungal issue.. however it had a nice healthy looking sucker growing from the base. I brought it home and found this video. I cut off the top 12” and stuck it in a pot. And planted the rest in a nice sunny spot in my yard. I thought the freeze surely would have killed both. Today, to my surprise both are doing well, the sucker is 3’ tall and has a nice 3 way branching and the cutting has buds and roots coming out of the pot and into my compost pile. Sadly the mother died but not before giving me two nice looking plants. Thanks for the detailed information Scott. It definitely made a difference.

[@ScottHead]

Awesome, thanks so much for this report, I appreciate the encouragement

[@karenkoerner6015]

Thanks for covering a wide range of decisions. I feel much better able to deal with my new potted fig.

[@PeytonWind]

Wow, many examples of what can go wrong on trees and how to make corrections. I have no figs but this is good information that can be applied to just about any tree.

[@cathyann9852]

Really informative and great up close demonstrations of how to prune a variety of growth habits. I found this really helpful. Thanks!

[@rinalarabie8100]

Was given my first fig plant this spring. It's about a year old but I don't know what type so that will be a surprise. I've been giving it a drink every morning or evening when the sun is off the garden and I learned it will benefit from some mulch. Will see how it fares this year in our extraordinary summer of high heat and drought in coastal British Columbia, Canada. In spring, I'll prune it and repot it into something a bit larger (and nicer) and it should bare fruit next year. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, Scott. I'm sure my little tree will benefit from some TLC and your guidance.

[@meggimoo318]

Love the figs! Good job.

[@bigislegal2973]

Excellent pruning and root pruning tips for figs. Best I've seen. Thank you.

[@katehache]

I’m so excited to get my figs shaped up for spring. This was really helpful and encouraging.

[@tmontero8492]

Excellent video on figs! Thanks for covering root pruning!

[@elainebariluk417]

This video was so very helpful. Bought my first fig tree in September.

[@charlottecampbell417]

Wow! I have some serious work to do on my fig! Thanks for all the information.

[@abuyousef.ahmood8137]

Thank you for good opinions prune fig tree 👍🌷🌷🌷

[@hootiebubbabuddhabelly]

Sooo...when they're in pots, they're basically just tall bonsais, eh? That's something one would do to a bonsai, so...VERY interesting. I assumed that would be the case, with regard to the Olympian Fig I'll be getting that will be potted but seeing this video makes it a whole lot less scary. Thank you!

[@myronhewski9899]

Excellent

[@hypocentric]

Nice pruning tips of the structure and roots. Very good information. Happy gardening 🌱 Keep plowing

[@LBTradCat]

Thank you so much for this video. One of my fig trees produces fruit, but looks like a bush. The other doesn’t produce fruit, but looks like a tree 😑 I appreciate all the tips. I already did half the work. Waiting for the itching to stop.

[@charleswilder2985]

When you have so many, it is hard to keep up with them. I am just starting to get many, so this was a great lesson to me, not necessarily as to the severe pruning as to much as regarding keeping up with them. You have a great manner of teaching! Thsnks!

[@joolsmonash9855]

Thank you so much for all this amazing information. All the best from Australia.

[@warrencamp5915]

Although I don't share your passion for fig trees, (my 1 fig tree is 12 feet in dia.) I did love your vidio. I always learn so much from watching. Thanks again.

[@ScottHead]

I have an 8 foot tree in the yard out front, but it is getting heavily pruned this year since I don’t like any fruit tree to be taller than I can reach. :-)

[@warrencamp5915]

@@ScottHead I just pruned the top 6 feet of my tree last month. Iv always said "the Lord provides for the birds too." Ha ha

[@Chiroman527]

Great video, very informative, straight forward and to the point

[@tenaciousChronicler]

We have a really old fig tree, no idea the age, and its in ground. About two years ago I finally convinced my dad to cut a large branch off that was infested with some pest and kept it from producing on that branch. He was hesitant because he really wanted the fig to grow taller. Last year was the most productive that fig had been in years, we got upwards of maybe 30-40 pounds of fruit the whole season. We gifted a lot, stored some others and I preserved the rest not eaten as jam. That bare spot has already started to try growing another banch. Even if this video was about container figs, I think I will talk to my dad about what we can prune from the bottom to try and root another plant and maybe encourage a little more upward growth. Thank you so much for this video. ( P.S. the tree is about 7-8 ft tall and wide for context)

[@ScottHead]

Sounds like a great plan. You can easily root fig cuttings, especially growth from the previous year when it goes dormant.

[@unsaltedtomato899]

I'm gonna need you to go ahead and send me a likely cutting... I know very little about figs but I like their newtons. there's this smart guy on KZbin that's rather passionate about them so I reckon they're worth growing

[@dmdadswell]

Thank you for your video very helpful and comprehensive instructions 💯

[@jackiehorsley9263]

thanks for all the tips you got some nice fig trees

[@detectivemikevarnado7515]

more fig trees more fig trees

[@Chiefs555]

So much great information 👏 Thank you for making this!

[@marilynwhite2155]

Wonderful video with interesting bits of advice Scott eg the short crowded stem growth - exactly my problem on some potted figs.. Using "problem plants" for pruning with clear explanations. Can't wait to tackle my winter pruning in Australia now, QUESTION Scott- you mentioned apical buds and pinching thereof to encourage growth of side shoots. Does that apply to cuttings - is it best to remove apical buds to encourage the cuttings to shoot new growth from buds lower down?? Thanks Scott.

[@pjorge8363]

Hi Scott Great video, very helpful thank you for your knowledge really appreciate what you do!

[@lajwantishahani1225]

Excellent pruning tips, Scott. Thanks. I have a 5-6 year old fig tree in the garden soil though and was hoping for some tips on that.

[@joerappa5278]

Taught me a lot with this video. Thanks

[@Riv64]

Love it! We have only one gig and never had figs on it ( it’s 4 year old I guess). Need more fig trees 😄

[@kathycook1815]

I learned so much from this video-thanks.

Thank you! This is probably the best video I've seen on this topic. Is it safe to assume that all of this is done when the tree is dormant? and is it just before it wakes up or before it is stored for winter? I live in Rhode Island.

[@kennethlee3756]

I see you are showing all your fig trees but I haven’t seen anywhere you are producing any figs? Are you pruning to much? Are they not old enough to produce? I don’t understand . Not complaining just wondering. I really enjoy your videos! Keep it up.

[@ScottHead]

I have a nice harvest on most of the plants coming in now, though the heat has them stressed. I'll be doing some taste tests i the late summer. You can almost not prune a fig tree too much, I like to keep mie small, most of them are 3-4 years old.

[@robsyardhoustonarea1720]

Nice informative video ...it reminds me that I have several fig trees to prune....good luck this growing season

[@ScottHead]

Thanks Rob, I enjoy your channel, I remember te first video I watched of yours was your celeste fig harvest!

[@karenlatham4053]

I love figs! remember when I was about seven years old this woman had a fig tree that was so big that they actually had me climb up in the tree and pick some of the figs lol. And I'm not a small person lol at 7 I was probably the size of a 10 y/o.. So that was a big tree lol. Your's are so cute and little could you really have too many!? 😉

[@Danfoodforest]

Great tips and information Thank you

[@adigmon]

I live in the same growing area as you. When do I prune fig trees? I also have a lemon and mulberry. They’re all in ground are probably 4 years old

[@ScottHead]

I have some fig pruning videos if you would like to search them up. I prun when they are dormant and not yet breaking bud for spring. Usually February.

[@skullcollector29]

Cool......Interesting to see how they doing right now is April 26 ..........Thank's a lot for the vid ........Greetings from Long Branch , NJ

[@ScottHead]

I'll add them to the next garden tour which will be the early March tour, I'll make sure you get a look at them, they are like a jungle.

[@iartistdotme]

Such good information. I just got two cuttings from IVOrganics when I purchased some fertilizer. I also have one pitiful two branch fig where everything died last year except those two branches and I was going to trim them way down and replant to start over. So now I have three different kinds, a yellow long neck cutting, whatever that one is from last year and a panache tiger cutting. Tomorrow morning they will go in new pots with vermiculite/peat moss and lots of sun. I think last years fig just got too much water as it rained almost every single day for over a month then nothing for a month, then back to raining. The white flies were in heaven, or I wished I could have moved them there. I always watch your videos but tonight it was really important to me. Thank you so much. Why do you grow so many? You love them that much or is it a special interest? How do you use the figs? I made preserves last year and they were eaten almost quicker than it took to make. I like them with ripe cheese and crostini. or just gobble them up as fast as I can after checking for wasps inside

[@ScottHead]

I grow around 40 varieties, the reason is that I want to identify the five or six best flavors of fig and then I will focus on those. The remainder of the plants will be sold off or stealth-planted out in some public space. That is the plan, I really could use some more of that space for citrus and other fruit, so I need to reduce the fig numbers soon.

[@grucze]

I just was able to find this video Thank you so much for the content. I'm curious if you can enlighten me on your tags for the different fig trees. This is my first year growing figs. Thank you in advance for any info you could pass along to me. In his grip

[@ScottHead]

They are called Embossotags, you can get them on Amazon. They were originally made for pipelines but work great for plants.

[@veracampbell9583]

Nice video Scott.

[@GospelOutside]

What do you feed it once you repot? What do you do to give it tender loving care? I am about to repot two trees.

[@ScottHead]

I give them a basic liquid fertilizers every three months, they really don't need much. Miracle Grow, or maybe a fruit tree solution, whatever I have on hand.

[@gardeninggrandma5247]

Just found your channel -- very helpful tips!! Now that I'm retired, one of my garden goals is to get figs from our tree. I never knew about root pruning!! Probably too late to do that this year. Love the tags you have. Did you make them yourself?

[@ScottHead]

They are called Embossotags, I got them on Amazon.

[@leengau896]

Thank you for sharing your Fig growing knowledge. May I ask for a cuttings or two the next time you prune your figs. I have never grown figs before, but would like to learn. Where can I get a fig cutting to grow?

[@ScottHead]

You can get fig cuttings online at figbid.com, or from Tinkerbugfigs.com, and try ourfigs.com in the trade and sell section.

[@HousingBritian]

Awesome

[@tikashah5613]

My Ischia Fig tree is growing fast and over 6 feet tall but won't fruit. It's in a tall, 2 ft container and gets southern sun all day in Saint Louis. I am getting tons of new growth- just no fruit. Please advise. Should I prune it now?? and re-pot??

[@ScottHead]

More sun and consistent fertilizing.

[@2brownbraids]

Hello Black Gumbo, thank you, good video, do you root prune to keep the pot size small too ? what's the biggest pot you use ?

[@ScottHead]

I like a 20 gallon pot max, perfect size, and yes, I root prune every so often to keep the trees from becoming too bound up.

[@2brownbraids]

@@ScottHead thank you, good to know. I will be having most of mine in pots as my garden is rather formal and quite mature, not easy to incorporate fig trees amongst them.

[@regina4918]

For your green and blue pots, did you add additional draining holes to them or just the original draining holes? I have the same pots. I just got 3 fig trees in 5 gallon pots that I think I should up pot. I’m new at growing figs. Thank you for your informative videos.

[@ScottHead]

No, I didn't add additional drainage to them, they seem to drain well as designed.

[@regina4918]

@@ScottHead thank you so much for replying quickly!

[@carolparrish194]

Do you have any inground trees that you can give us some tips on ? I have a fig tree that is in ground and the fruit never set early enough to get ripe and it doesn't set a lot of fruit.

[@ScottHead]

I have two in ground trees, one that is 15 years old and prolific, and one that never has fruited. I’ll do a video on how to prune them.

[@bettypogh3910]

hi. What month is this ? Is that ok to have leaves and cut it? thanks

[@ScottHead]

Wait until the tree is completely dormant and without leaves, usually February around here.

[@diabhabiballah3467]

How long could these fig trees be left in the pots were shown ?

[@ScottHead]

Forever. Keep them small, keep them root pruned.

[@stacieadkins3671]

what do you use for potting soil

[@ScottHead]

Usually a cheap commercial mix but for fig trees, I amend with 30% perlite and maybe would add some coco coir these days.

[@ladybugninenine]

Where in the world do you get rice hulls to mulch with?

[@ScottHead]

www.amleo.com/rice-hull-bales/p/VP-RHB/ But they are almost always out of stock.

[@helenjohnson4593]

When is the best time in Central Arkansas to prune my Fig Tree?

[@ScottHead]

When the trees are sound asleep, before they start to show green in the growing tip. Should be late winter.

[@Fattiapples]

I’m so confused, so each winter do I snip the old growth off by a few inches? Or leave some branches to just keep growing? Does figs give fruit on older branches or no this is why we prune like 1/3 of the new growth off each year?

[@ScottHead]

Depends on what you want. Figs give fruit on both new growth and last years growth, depending on variety. I prune mostly for shape and to keep the trees small. If you don't care about small trees, just prune to keep the tree open in the middle.

[@reaganl.5113]

Thanks so much, I needed this. I wasn't sure how to attack my problem. I have 2 Chicago Hardy Figs in my garden in the ground. I am in zone 6a/b near Louisville, KY. They both have 6-8 finger thickness stalks coming out of the ground about 6-8 ft tall and about 3-4ft wide. They grow like a shrub instead of a tree. Really taking up some real estate in my raised beds. I wasn't sure how much I could cut them without killing them. This is their third winter. Last Winter when I reduced the number of shoots coming up out of the ground they just produced more shoots. Any suggestions on forcing a tree structure? I can wait on the fruit until next year if necessary.

[@ScottHead]

To force a tree structure you just select the shoot that you want to become the main trunk and then remove all the rest. You will have to keep on removing the shoots, but these can often be rooted. Unfortunately the structure of the root and woody root mass beneath the soil contributes to the growth of shoots and suckers, on some trees there is nothing to do about it except keep cutting them back. Sometimes you will prune off all the growth nodes for a while and the tree will stop, but not for long.

[@reaganl.5113]

@@ScottHead got it, thanks so much!

[@justindees16]

Do you have any fig cutting videos my grandma has a yellow fig and I want some to and she wants another plant I have had no success also do you ever give cutting or sell fig plants one more thing where do you get the rice hulls

[@ScottHead]

I have some old videos on rooting cuttings, they are pretty bad, and there are numerous other ways to root them that I would try now if I was rooting them. Do some research over at ourfigs.com and there will be numerous methods. I started my cuttings with this method: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3-tooOmoraDrpI kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmand2CCarCBa7s No, I don't have cuttings to sell or give away right now, I had hoped to but the growth was not as healthy this summer as I had hoped.

[@carolynstrauss6324]

Will you let me know where I can get the Treepots? Do you find them locally (I've not seen them) or do you have a good place to order online? Thank so much!

[@ScottHead]

I got mine with small, rooted fig cuttings I ordered, so they are recycled. But I have seen the for sale on various nursery supply websites. :-)

[@Spirits_And_Swords]

I'm going to repot my figs in a much bigger pots (in July 1), can I also cut the roots back 1/3, or will I kill them? My fig trees are 5-6 years old in a 5 - 25 gallon pots and I never root prune them yet.

[@ScottHead]

You can and should up-pot ad root prune, but it is best to do that in dormancy, January/February. To do it in the height of summer can stunt them and stress them out.

[@Spirits_And_Swords]

@@ScottHead Thanks for the quick response. I'm trying to fix up my backyard for a baptism party and since I am planning to up-pot them, I was just curious if I could root prune them too.

[@Spirits_And_Swords]

@@ScottHead The forecast for this week shows rain for the whole week, so maybe that will help a little bit.

[@joejefferies11]

I have one fig tree in the ground, actually in its own raised bed. It's a celeste. I want maximum fruit off of it. I am in zone 8. How would you recommend pruning it? Also, do you have a video that may answer that for me?

[@ScottHead]

Just follow the pruning advice in this video, that's all I have. Check out Ross Raddi's channel too, that's where you'll get focused fig advice.

[@joejefferies11]

Thank you for the quick response. I appreciate your content and love your approach man.

[@fritzietaylor5756]

My 10 yr old fig trees leaves were burnt what should I do with the burnt leaves?

[@ScottHead]

Compost them, that's what I'd do.

[@susanjames9214]

I would love to show you my fig tree.it has started shooting branches at the bottom. Not sure what to do.

[@ScottHead]

You can send me a pic on my Facebook page. But the usual situation with fig trees is they tend to send up shoots and suckers from the base. You can trim them off. I like to see if they have roots on them, you can sometimes dig out the roots attached to those kinds of suckers and root them as a new tree.

[@joeyisnice]

Thanks so much! This is very helpful information. All my figs are in the ground and now I have great information on how to manage the young ones. I do have one tree that is 40+ years old. It’s huge, gives lots of fruit, but is out of control. I’m hoping maybe you can share information on handling figs in the ground and the huge older ones. Like what is the maximum size branch you can prune without killing it?

[@ScottHead]

I will show how I manage my in-ground tree, but I am less experienced with it. I have shaped my chief in-ground fig to a beautiful and fruitful tree, but it needs to be reduced in size so I can actually reach next year's fruit. I'll have a video on that soon, though we have lots of rain in the forecast so it might take a while.

[@apiarygirl]

Looking forward to the inground pruning tips. A LOT.

[@joecabral7925]

Do you sale cuttings.

[@ScottHead]

No not yet.

[@rosemacaskie]

The real problem with roots that go round and round the plant is that they send out side roots which start to tie up all the roots that go round and also to hold thicker roots in hte centre so close to each other that they like the roots growing round cannot grow out.

[@MichelleM0704]

Where do you get your rice hulls?

[@ScottHead]

A.M. Leonard online, bought a bale, haven't even come close to using a quarter of it in a whole year.

[@MichelleM0704]

@@ScottHead Thank you. They are affordable too, I see. I have another quick question. I recieved a fig cutting from my late grandmother's farm. It's 2 years old now & has the 2 main branches. Sadly, a rabbit ate the bark off one branch. Should I cut off the branch from the trunk? They are both about 4 ft tall.

[@ScottHead]

Michelle M Hard to know without seeing the damage. I’d probably leave it and see what happens.

[@joannthompson765]

Where do understand rice hulls

[@ScottHead]

A. M. Leonard online.

[@j.michaelboland8414]

Hey Scott great video. We have 2 fig trees planted a couple of years ago and each year we have lost all of the leaves due to Fig Rust virus. I have disposed of all of the infected leaves and so far this year I have vigorous new growth. What can be done to make sure another infection doesn’t come back? And yes we are practicing social distance - the trees are at least 40 feet apart.

[@ScottHead]

I've never heard of a way to overcome the rust except get the tree as well-cared for an healthy with a decent fertilizing schedule so it can naturally fight off the virus. My in-ground Celeste always gets rust and drops its leaves, some years worse than others, just about the time we have harvested all the fruit. My trees in the back yard rarely get rust. But I never mulch them with lawn clippings because I mow up the fallen fig tree leaves in the front and they end up in my garden mulch. So no cross-contamination there. Wish I knew more.

[@j.michaelboland8414]

Scott Head FYI I sprayed them with Neem oil after the first outbreak, but the Rust reappeared the next year. I may try spraying again BEFORE any signs of the virus.

[@leannhearnsberger7222]

Steve I have a small fig tree that I planted in the ground. For the last two years, after winter, it looks dead and then when spring comes it starts back from the base of the tree right at the ground, so I am not getting any real growth on the tree. Should I dig it up and put it in a pot, or what to do? We live in Southwest Arkansas right about Shreveport, LA. Have been enjoying your videos immensely!! New to this gardening thing although I am not “new”. Thanks for any advise you can give. Newbie with needs.

[@ScottHead]

So you are saying the whole tree dies instead of going dorant? And no new growth emerges out of the old dormant wood? That IS strange. It shouldn't get so cold that it freezes that bad but if it does, I've seen people in the north dig up their tree, lay it on its side, and bury it with leaves and a tarp until spring, then they plant upright. However, if you wanted to be sure, yes, pot it in good potting soil, and when it goes dormant, stick it somewhere in the garage or basement until spring, and see if that fixes the problem.

[@leannhearnsberger7222]

Scott Head thank you!

[@michelep1130]

How long do you wait to put the fig trees you pruned into the ground (or do you continue to grow them in the pots?

[@ScottHead]

I'll keep them in pots, which is why they are so heavily pruned and root pruned. If in the ground, you manage them differently. I'll have a video on that soon.

[@tinaadkins3042]

My tree is 20+ years.. really needs a cut back. It’s taking over my patio table..please help

[@ScottHead]

You can chop it back severely in the winter when it is dormant.

[@Dunbarton]

You have only "male" ("He" and "Guy") trees. How do I tell if I have "female" ("She" and "Gal") trees?

[@ScottHead]

I've never bothered with it, they give me fruit and I don't worry.

[@wipeoutxl21]

Just can't agree with anything you did here. My two year old fig bushes are about 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Produce a ton of fruit if you let them grow how nature Intended.

[@antoanarnaudov3664]

Dude have you noticed how many varieties Gumbo has? This is the only practical way to have so many vatieties in such little space. Indeed if you have a huge yard/farm you can let them bush out but you still have to keep them in check because otherwise figgs will take over your whole plot and you will never get rid of fig shoots coming from everywhere. The other issue is....what are you going to do with all the fruit that 50 trees will produce? Jam it and sell it - of course. But as Gumbo has said many times he is doing this to supplement his family's food. You are absolutely right but everyone has different context and different desires out of their garden.

[@ScottHead]

Yes, it all depends on your goals. My goals are to have small fig trees in pots. I keep them small on purpose so I can have variety over bulk. No room for another large tree. You can prune a large tree for fruit production too, more than if you just let it grow wild. The apical dominance of the growing buds will go straight and produce less fruiting branches if you leave it alone, pinch strategically and build lots more fruit branches.