Too Big To Prune? Nope! Here Are Some Pruning Tips as We Prune a BIG Fig Tree

[@a4000t]

david leaves a tiny stump..... neighbor:ARGHHH MY TREE! .. david: Its perfect!

[@dans3718]

What neighbor doesn't know is David is harvesting biomass for HIS garden :)

[@sherylintheraw]

I'd do the same.🤣

[@michelifig6356]

and transplants👍😅

[@sdtrawick]

The neighbor is actually my grandma! She told me about this video.

[@rogerbeck5704]

I had to prune two figs like the one you did, saved a lot of cuttings and now have 30 fig trees that I will eventually sell.

[@davidthegood]

Great work. Good return.

[@michelifig6356]

Excellent!

[@thatbme35]

So you can root whole branches?

[@rogerbeck5704]

@@thatbme35 I never rooted anything larger than three-quarters of an inch in diameter and 3 feet long.

[@baneverything5580]

Yep, that was about 2000 possible rooted new fig trees. I`d be sticking them everywhere but I`m half crazy. I don`t know how I`ll ever eat all of the fruit growing in my yard. But the way the birds and squirrels keep inspecting my trees is making me paranoid. My first brown turkey fig tree is only 2 years old and it`s already huge and loaded with figs and so is a cutting from it I planted in March. I have another in a pot and planted 4 Celeste and 4 mulberry trees this year too.

[@anderskallstrom1635]

David: I’m allergic to latex. Me thinking: is that way he has 10 kids 😂

[@PrimitiveTim]

Bro.... That's a good one 😂

[@rehoboth_farm]

It's one hell of an excuse.

[@livesoutdoors1708]

You are BAD!😆( just kidding )

[@tenbears2335]

Hilarious!

[@BlackJesus8463]

lol

[@zachlloyd9392]

Great tips. I also will cut a foot or two distally first to remove the branch. Then cut where I want the final point, so the best cut is made with only a tiny bit of weight hanging on the tree. Two cuts is more laborious, but I don't mind doing that for my trees.

[@midkiffsjoy]

I can't wait to see an update on Daughter the Goods rooted fig trees.

[@shaneswing2016]

Planted my 1st fig tree this year, and 4 ape trees after I took you up on the recommendation to buy the book Grow a Tiny Fruit Tree. The fig was 6 inches tall when I planted it this spring and now its 6 feet tall with digs growing. Amazing tree. Wish I had that book 21 years ago when I bought my property.

[@shaneswing2016]

Apple tree

[@davidthegood]

Excellent.

[@matthewfarrell317]

I have a mediterranean climate, here in Melb, Aus. If you cut a fig tree like that here, within one growing season it would be right back at that height lol. Once established, I don't think I have ever seen a tree grow so fast. On the loppers, I found one that has click locks for the extension, so much better, lock them in and they don't move.

[@baneverything5580]

Same here in Louisiana. Fig trees grow a few inches per day in early to mid summer.

[@lacklusterami]

Train up a fig tree in the way that it should be smaller, that when it is older it would not depart from it.

[@rosehavenfarm2969]

Hezekiah 5, right? 😁

[@Huntnlady7]

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

[@PLS.54]

@@Huntnlady7 You got it! I was about to cite that scripture too…😆

[@davemartin1534]

😉 true story

[@Beck04hojas]

Most entertaining pruning video i've seen. My poor fig tree doesnt know what is coming.

[@zsandmann]

That's a pecan or a walnut "weed" in the middle of the fig.

[@BlackJesus8463]

That's nuts.

[@basantprasadsgarden8365]

David: Cuts the entire tree down* Neighbore: You aren't supposed to do that! David: I do that anyway 😂😂

[@nolanchinn582]

Give away the cuttings to your viewers David that would be great 👍

[@cookiewilcox5082]

Love the propagation. Don't forget to give us an update on these ❤

[@3v388]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHSuqYtnbMpnmKs

[@midkiffsjoy]

David- Sticks tree in hole with NO cares given. Tree grows. Me- Goes all extra to plant tree with ALL the special recomendations. Tree still dies.

[@nathanhearn8914]

I’ve had a pair of extended loppers but they were different from the ones you described. Probably one of the best tools I’ve ever come across for pruning/thinning taller trees. (Barnel b88t) is the model. Kind of expensive but I was absolutely amazed by their performance.

[@emmitstewart1921]

That "weed" looks like a black walnut. Here in the North fig trees get killed down to the ground by winter cold and grow back from the root, so hard pruning won't kill the tree, but that will result in forming fast growing sprouts that will get too tall very quickly.

[@lisakruger5289]

I'm so glad there were some fig trees propogated from those cuttings! I was getting worried for a minute that all those future fig trees would go to waste. Great job trimming that puppy into something more manageable!

[@lynnwhite3503]

Figs are amazing. Mine died completely to the ground a couple of times when it was younger during hard freezes.

[@gabrieldespres7829]

Montreal gets -30c in winter. The olds italians figurd out how to grow figs here anyway

[@kaykes7012]

Not gonna lie, I was expecting an intergalactic robot dance scene.

[@anitapaulsen3282]

I was so stunned that you were not going to take cuttings from all that bounty and then your daughter did. Phew! Haha.😉😊

[@gerhardbraatz6305]

I was wondering if you were going to try to root any of that fig. Got my answer at the end. I should have known better.

[@tanarehbein7768]

I whole heartedly agree about the loppers. Multi purpose tools often don't serve any purpose at all.

[@notmyfault6835]

San Diego Growing Zone 10b checking in 🌱👩‍🌾 Pruning Pants!!👖😆 NO FEAR!! 💪👍 (That was one SERIOUS Fig tree!!!) 🤪🌳! Was it a Pecan tree?? 🤔🤷‍♀️

[@angelbear_og]

David's pruning again. Hold me I'm scared!!! ^_-

[@andrewhunter5254]

It may have been a black walnut but I think it's an elderberry tree.ps I don't think you went far enough I'd have taken that fig tree down to a stump. Yes I all so am a butcher of tree's. 😂🤣😃🌳🌳🌳🌳🖖♥️

[@shanemillard608]

Now to propagate 1000 fig trees from the cuttings!

[@susanm9078]

Wow, so glad I saw this. I have a huge fig that needs to be pruned. I will also try my hand at starting so to sell.

[@polkcellar]

I think it's a walnut? Hey DTG. Please tell . I have a 8 ft one that the jay planted under a 70 ft limbed up pine tree and I'm trying to decide its fate. Can we prune a pecan or walnut low too? I've never seen that. Thanks for the family oriented content with the slightly twisted humor along with a little faith thrown in! Our yard is a drought stressed food jungle here in central cal. Saving dish,bath, and laundry water now 💧.

[@davidthegood]

I am experimenting with pecans still. I've seen a guy cut them low. Practical Primate has a video.

[@gardengatesopen]

My husband cuts a certain Pecan tree back into a bush every year. He says it's his favorite. (I think he likes it's stamina.) It grows about 8 feet a year. And it's in full shade, so zero Pecans. He's been cutting it back once a year for more than 10 years. So yes - you definitely can cut a Pecan into any size bush you want it to be.

[@alexirodriguez9121]

Pecan seedling tree growing in the middle of the fig tree?

[@MarvinWadeBarr]

I thought you were going to say "fig cuttings will be available for sale on my daughters etsy store." Do you have any idea what variety of fig was grown in the South years ago? My Great- grandmother from Meridian, Mississippi had a huge fig tree and I grew up on her fig preserves until one nasty winter freeze killed her tree.

[@davidthegood]

Usually Brown Turkey or Celeste.

[@alalmaoui5212]

A small shredder/mulcher would have been handy! Can easily propagate fig trees from cuttings.

[@davidthegood]

Yes - a shredder would be great.

[@loves2spin2]

Thanks! I was recently wondering why I'm not supposed to prune my apple trees NOW. Now I know!

[@rehoboth_farm]

That's a pecan tree. No, you don't want it there. You're right. "If I could transplant it." LOL! One that big isn't coming out without a fight to the death.

[@ElevenBird]

Those nuts take over. Been killing them all summer

[@rehoboth_farm]

@@ElevenBird Reminds me of the pirate who had a giant steering wheel on his belt buckle.

[@ElevenBird]

@@rehoboth_farm 😂🤣😂 love it! Time for the pirate flag on the farm!!

[@outoftownr3906]

Tree of heaven

[@FM-qm5xs]

I have loppers which have a button to extend. They are good, sturdy and lightweight. You can get branches just out of reach of regular loppers and you don't have to worry about the handles sliding out on you. Love 'em.

[@olgakuchukov6981]

Hilarious first action shot! Better than Benny Hill. Bravo!

[@ElevenBird]

Oh my... My fig is WAY bigger I hope you have lots of great knowledge in here cause I'm scared 👻

[@CynCopeland-TheAnswerIsMeat]

It's fig glut / harvest time here in the SW of Western Australia. The tree in the house garden is actually very prettily shaped and would be a nice bonzai for the jolly green giant. For a mere human, who battles the parrots and magpies (and ants) for the fruit, this will be the year that baby gets a haircut that I will strictly keep saying 'don't worry, it'll grown back' ... We don't need all the fruit and the birds just propogate the darn things! And the wood will burn nicely ...

[@lisaalbarras3029]

Donna Gaudette asked: I am surprised that you didn’t cut away the two stems that were laying on the ground. Is there a reason. Somehow it didn't post to the main comment section, I found her question in a response to another question, thought I would post it here!

[@gardentours]

My neighbor always asks me how to prune his trees. I have to show him this video. 👍

[@BernardClaviere]

Elderberry growing near. They grow everywhere on my property.

[@fredortiz8196]

Hey I just can't help it dude I just got to say it I just love you so man I can't wake up every morning I got to watch your videos before I do anything it's like you just make my day God bless you do thank you so much

[@davidthegood]

Thank you, Fred - God bless you too.

[@cgc1581]

My 9 year old says you looked like a mad scientist cutting down that tree 😆

[@Omoloya1]

The actual GASP I JUST emitted!🤣🤣🤣❤️❤️❤️❤️🌿🌿🌿🌿

[@jackieroberts6316]

I have a 30' tall by 30' wide fig tree. It needs pruning...ha! I need to take a picture and send it to you and have you tell me how far to cut it back. Good Lord, I will be apologizing to the tree the whole time! "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! David said to do this!"

[@romanmetcalf4116]

Are they climbable?

[@ericmoulton9533]

I hope you are making cuttings!

[@kathleensanderson3082]

Is fig tree wood good for anything? (Besides compost, possibly.)

[@davidthegood]

Apparently larger sections are decent for small projects.

[@williammay2332]

If nothing else they could be used as supports for small plants like tomatoes or larger for making a trellis for grapes.

[@gardengatesopen]

That looks like a Pecan weed to me! My hubs cut them back just like you did. He thought he killed them too... Until a few months later, now we have several Pecan bushes in the yard. (I tried to tell him, but that man just won't listen... )

[@bettiechamberlin1355]

The "weed" tree looks like a Pecan.

[@NerdsWorldNYC]

I just pruned the ones in the front yard and dammit I felt like I was in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,fighting them even one twitch bounced and caught me in the back of the neck.😂😂

[@fishrider62]

How old was that thing?

[@Penutbutter360]

If im not wrong, im pretty sure that tree growing between the fig was a jaboticaba of some sort.

[@alalmaoui5212]

You look good in the bee suit David. Fig trees are very forgiving, and are very prolific plants. Extreme cold weather can kill the fig trees ,extreme hot weather kills the figs, By the way, the fig fruit is a flower not a fruit!!!

[@davidthegood]

Thank you. Figs are very strange, aren't they? I love them.

[@hasenafarms6448]

Interesting that you don’t worry about pruning in the middle of summer. My dad killed a beautiful 30 foot fig my great grandfather planted because he pruned it in 110 degree heat.

[@davidthegood]

That is pretty darn hot.

[@RobertLaTuso]

When should I prune my Container Fig Plants in Long Island New York?

[@notalltheories]

I TRIED to kill an apple tree that was here from before we moved in--it was way overgrown, and the apples were terrible, and it was in the way. I chopped EVERYTHING off. It's now growing back and has little apples on it. I figure I'll give it another chance this year and if they're still terrible, I'm breaking out the chainsaw and it's all going in the compost.

[@davidthegood]

You could always graft a better type on it. That rootstock is strong!

[@readbooks9985]

Army of helper children 👍

[@tilhanab6307]

Did anyone figure out what the volunteer edible was that he cut down? The suspense is killing me!

[@ElevenBird]

That Edible looks like my black walnuts

[@rosehavenfarm2969]

Fear. Yup. Lots of that going around, not just in pruning circles. Is fig wood good for anything useful?

[@notmyfault6835]

Fig tree cuttings propagate super easily!!

[@Micupthecreek]

Many helpful words I appreciate it as I have 2 mature fig trees on a new to me property. I had no idea what to do with them now I do, thanks

[@Micupthecreek]

It went well for me, it was a lot I have 🤞 it went well for the tree’s future, my wife reminded me that the root system could become a septic tank encroachment issue I’ll let them rest a couple of years b4 doing anything (if I know me)

[@teddyboy252]

Good job

[@NuckinFuts930]

You are kind of funny, I like that. I'm growing Figs as well but still 1 year old, still small, been pruning them to keep them small.

[@EatYourBackyard]

DTG, I had that same saw and it closed on my knuckles, be careful. I ended up having hand surgery since it was rusty and pushed the mango sap into my finger. I love the ZEN ART OF TRIMMING. Lots of trim vids on my channel, hehe. Great vid!

[@davidthegood]

Yikes

[@GingerNinja4x4]

Love the music 🎶

[@brokenfaith2968]

OMG !!!! You killed Lil Figgy..... lol. All those lil fig trees you just made. Love the information.

[@MrMantraMan]

Hickok loppers, Made in 'Murka, love em

[@baddriversofcolga]

Heck yeah! I love mine as well.

[@murcster1]

Great video David going to trim my large tree today thanks

[@KKRiver861]

Does this trees root not effect your foundation since it is so close to the house? W ejust got a home inspection done which showed our massive Fig trees roots growing up into the crawl space.

[@bonnieweeks8383]

Always great to have minions.

[@davidthegood]

I have great little helpers.

[@Ricosyard]

Huge fig tree wow and you do look like a beastie boy ps.. was that elderberry growing in the middle?

[@davidthegood]

Yes - elderberry!

[@gardengatesopen]

@@davidthegood I thought it was a Pecan! Soooo, will the elderberry die from a severe lopping?

[@rkng1]

@@gardengatesopen The instructions that came with my elderberries said to cut them to within 6 inches of the ground close to or after first frost.

[@gardengatesopen]

@@rkng1 OK then! Good to know! I've not grown an Elderberry -Yet! So now I will know. Thank You ❤

[@rkng1]

@@gardengatesopen actually I bought bareroot stock as there's no elderberry growing around here. The instructions said to trim off the top 4 inches and discard prior to planting. That seemed wasteful. I stuck the little nub in the dirt and it grew about 12 inches and has put up some new growth to the sides.

[@pauliewalnuts2007]

Looked like a Walnut tree (the volunteer tree) 😊

[@janebadon3988]

You are right about the extending pruners!

[@melanielinkous8746]

Love the Beastie Boys!

[@Huntnlady7]

DTG; have you heard of power tools? They are our friends! Was that a black walnut growing up through the center?

[@Darlenejoy]

David - I love your style. Chop. Drop. And let nature do the work until and if you feel like doing something later…. I have a wild fig that came up. How long before I know if it will bear fruit? If it bears fruit, I’ll prune it and propagate. That’s why I’m asking.

[@davidthegood]

I'm not sure how long they take from seed to bear fruit.

[@NimlothWhitetree]

I have a fig tree 3x that size in the yard of the house we just got - so many fils we can’t reach dripping juice all over it’s a disaster

[@Lorellehb]

Thanks! Exactly what I needed to know.

[@GraceInnovations]

LOL "help I was jumped" 😂

[@everlastinggrass]

Are you gonna leave those fresh cuttings through the winter in that pot, outside or greenhouse er wut!? I kept mine in an outside storage room and only 2 made it out of 6. I'm not pruning this year. The plan is to air layer. Your way made me think I should try that with hormones and all. You got Steve in that pot? Hahaha I'll try both this time and see what happens!

[@dantoppa1265]

I'm Allergic to Latex but the biomass was worth it ,oh and the 50 cuttings.wait I haven't tried these figs yet,well try anyway

[@jennytalbott8006]

Does anyone know what brand the pruning saw is that he's using? I've gone through several and have yet to find one that works well.

[@briangable08]

Wilkinson is the one I use with what they call a Japanese blade, very good one handed whilst hanging on with other. It will take a water shoot off with one swipe cleam as a whistle. I laughed out loud with the latex comment on size of the Good tribe, a football team.

[@mattpeacock5208]

You are kinda sportin a Mike D look. It's cool, keep it.

[@baddriversofcolga]

Knowing how figs are you could probably stick those huge prunings in the ground and they would root...lol. There's something fun and satisfying about remedial pruning like this...it might just be the fact that you get to use a saw. :P

[@coreyellerbe]

I've had trouble getting my fig to fruit. Pretty much ever since I put it in the ground, it won't fruit.

[@briancrispano828]

Don’t forget to share those cuttings!!!

[@miggroup5557]

My tree is growing bizzarly. It has three big main branches about 3 inches in diameter and one is growing as an “S” shape don’t know how to trim that

[@koicaine1230]

I've got Beastie Boys Intergalactic playing on a loop in my head now. At least it's a great song.

[@davidthegood]

Don't - you tell me to stop!

[@koicaine1230]

@@davidthegood LMAO!!

[@ericmoulton9533]

Oh you surprised me! I new it! Babies

[@3bouldersurban653]

Is that an elderberry growing in a middle of the fig tree?

[@paullittle813]

I always start laughing about a minute in. Thanks, man.

[@EnchantedBlueWolf]

Lmao that pecan seedling is great find but in a horrible spot. Sucker gonna be 150 feet in 80 years lol

[@jeremyshingleton7697]

What's the song playing at about 13 minute mark?

[@ericmoulton9533]

Lots of babies!

[@PowrAl]

Season the pre-cut pieces of the big stumps. Best wood for smoking fish, bacon or chicken. Thank me later!

[@davidthegood]

I never tried fig before - thank you

[@jurieccilliers]

My guess is that it was a pecan nut tree.

[@jgree89]

Was the extra 'weed' a curry tree?

[@adamcadovius4566]

Look at all of those new fig trees-to-be! Also, is that a Katuk?

[@Lorellehb]

Black walnut growing in the middle?