How to Prune a Fig Tree: Tips for Pruning Fig Trees

A fig tree is one of many fruit trees from the Ficus genus. Many species are known for their large leaves and plump, sweet fruit. Most species of fig tree do best in USDA hardiness zones five through nine. They are self-pollinating and drought-tolerant, although too little water will prevent the tree from producing edible fruit.

It is relatively easy to grow fig trees in your home garden. In their early years, they need regular watering. Mulch can help retain moisture and prevent too much water from evaporating from the soil. Fig trees also need regular pruning, which over time will produce new fruiting wood.

When you prune a fig tree or fig bush, several positive things happen.

1. 1. The process stimulates new growth. When you clip off old, unproductive branches, the tree dedicates resources to growing new branches that can be more productive.
2. 2. A pruned tree becomes thicker and more vibrant. When trees produce new shoots, they come in thicker and heartier than the ones they replaced.
3. 3. Pruned trees produce more fruit. Whether you have a fig tree, an apple tree, or a citrus tree, cutting back non-fruiting branches will actually produce a greater harvest on the fruiting branches.

Whether you have a fig tree or a fig bush in your home garden, you will help it thrive by pruning it every year. Consider some general tips for this process.

1. 1. Prune your fig tree in its very first year. If you buy a young fig tree or fig bush from a nursery, prune it as soon as you plant it in the ground. The first time you prune, you should cut back about fifty percent of the branches. This will help the tree devote its resources toward establishing a strong root system.
2. 2. Prune your tree again during the tree's first winter. Winter pruning should be an annual affair, and that starts with your tree's very first winter. Late winter is the end of the tree's dormant season and the best time to bring out your pruning shears. This will prompt new branches to sprout by early spring.
3. 3. Continue pruning your tree every following year. Pruning your fig tree in its first year is important, but plan to keep pruning it next year and the year after that. Pruning your fig tree during dormancy will lead to a more productive growing season and fresh fruit starting in early summer.
4. 4. Select certain branches to be fruiting branches. With your first pruning behind you, it's time to get strategic. As you prune in the tree's second year, look for five to six particularly strong branches that extend from the main trunk. These will be your main branches for bearing fruit. Cut off all the other smaller branches from the main trunk.
5. 5. Use clean pruning shears. Always clean your pruning shears with alcohol before trimming your tree to avoid spreading diseases between plants.
6. 6. Prune the secondary branches. A secondary branch is one that grows off a main fruiting branch of the tree. If any secondary branches span off at less than a forty-five-degree angle or are otherwise growing very close to the fruiting branches, prune those as well. Pruning these branches can help create a clear path for the fruiting branches as the tree matures.
7. 7. Prune the suckers. A sucker is a small leafy growth that appears at or about ground-level near the base of the tree. These will never grow into full branches, so clip them off with your pruners.
8. 8. Consider cutting back fruiting branches. During dormancy, consider cutting back your mature tree's fruiting branches to one-third or even one-fourth of their normal size. This will help keep the tree smaller and sturdier, preventing large branches from breaking off and making harvesting easier as well. Depending on the size of your fruiting branches, you may need to use large loppers instead of pruning shears.
9. 9. Always prune deadwood. Major pruning should happen during the dormant season of late fall and winter, but prune deadwood and diseased wood all year round.
10. 10. Prune less over time. Young trees need intense pruning to set them on the right course. Older trees can be pruned far less drastically.

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