Pruning Advice?

briana_2006

16 years ago

Hello all -

Just wanted to ask if I should prune this black turkey

fig?

I have had it for about 3 years in the same pot and have not pruned it.

If possible please mark on the picture with arrows where I should prune.

I have finally found a source of turface MVP so I am considering making Al's mix for a repot this year.

Al- my trees will be facing south all day with full sun.

What version of your mix do you recommend? I will only be available to water them in the morning and if needed evening. I am concerned about making a mix that drains too well and having the plants die from lack of water during the day.

I would like to do the repot/pruning and even root pruning in the next couple of weeks (before spring) while the tree is still dormant in my garage. Does this sound advisable?

For the root pruning I am thinking to gently remove the soil (miracle grow) by gently washing away with water and trimming the roots as needed (i.e. to cut back any dead roots back to healthy looking (light brown/plump ones).

Does this also sound advisable? I don't want to kill the tree.

Thanks in advance for any help,

Brian

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Comments (3)

wildforager
16 years ago
I see that you are wise to repot this tree, it definitely needs a bigger pot! You may want to root prune this guy too. Its probably pretty root bound after 3 yrs. I would also prune off some of the lower branches. That is if you want to encourage it to be a tree. If you want a bush trim back the top to encourage sucker growth.

Good luck,
Little John
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
16 years ago
Hi, Brian. Just the regular mix of equal parts (by volume) of

1/8-1/4" uncomposted pine or fir bark
Screened Turface (through insect screen or equal)
Gran-I-Grit in grower size or #2 cherrystone
1 level tbsp gypsum per gallon or 1/2 cup/cu ft

will work very well.

You don't need to be too timid when working with the roots. Whack the bottom 1/3-1/2 of the root mass off with a saw, then remove all the soil. A piece of 10" dowel rod partially sharpened in a pencil sharpener is an excellent aid for this. Those that are really serious about root work may want to invest a little in a root hook and a rake, too. After the roots are bare, remove an additional 1/3 of the remaining roots, concentrating on removing the largest roots and those growing directly under the trunk. Work out of wind & sun so the hair roots don't dry out & die. I often dip small trees in water as I work & spritz the roots of larger trees with a spray bottle. Then just repot, using the dowel to work soil into all the air pockets. Securing the tree to the pot would really speed up reestablishment. You can easily reuse the same pot - plenty of room in that one, even if you didn't root-prune. After the repot, water well & then just wait until leaves open in late March.

Al
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ricortes
16 years ago
For your consideration.
{{gwi:754142}}

Kind of lousy photo editing. Another warning, I don't do as much container growing as, well probably anyone else here so take anything I say anytime I say it with a grain of salt if it is about growing something in a pot.

That being said I use as a rule of thumb: A plant wants as much room below the ground as above. If you don't want to prune back then you could just go to a larger pot.

If you do prune it back, root all your cuttings of course!!!

Rick