So good to hear from Dieseler. I need to root prune many but no access yet. Only available in early April for pruning.

Yes, time to prune the collection to due to age. First I will start with not adding anymore.

I was just thinking I need to downsize. I don't know if my bigger figs will get root pruned at all this year. The smaller ones will just get potted up a few sizes. THEN I'll have to make decisions. The fig shuffle is getting out of hand with over 50 (big) pots, especially with the weather and temps fluctuating so wildly the last few months. It was December before the all of my figs lost their last leaves (unheard of before this winter!), but we had frost and then 70's, frost then 80's!!!! for weeks. I had late figs I'd never seen before. So I dragged them in and out, in and out. THEN, some of them had new leaf buds starting to swell before it finally got cold enough to put them to sleep. I'm bound to have dieback this year, which never happens to the figs kept in my garage. And it's looking to be a tragically wild Spring. It was 29F two night ago, was 67F today (too early...that's March temps!). Soooooo, I'm going to have decide which figs to keep and what to do with the ones I don't keep. There's NO WAY I can just trash them, but they aren't all hardy, and no one will want those.

Wish you could have taken pix, Martin. Even I would like to see the pro at work, and the newbies NEED to see it, lol.

John

Here are the 2 pictures i managed to take before camera quit as i wanted to show finished root prune but can explain what i been doing all these years.

First i lay pot on side and pull fig tree out i wanted to set it on the smaller black pot so as not to have to bend down so much but it was to heavy to lift so i prune on floor.

I use that recip saw with wood pruning blade and cut at least 5-7 inches off bottom as these were in 30g pots smaller pots would have been less.

Then i make wedge cuts as shown in 1st picture.

In 2nd picture i was about to slice down the outside of each wedge where the saw sits thats when camera quit .

The top of each wedge is also sliced to the fig trunk.

Plant was then fitted back into pot and filled .

Canopy gets pruned as well afterwards.

This is what i been doing for long time and works for me just not the fun part of growing figs in cold climate in containers.

Martin

Martin!! I had NO idea that you liked growing figs as much as do, let alone Jades...If I could only have a friend like you locally..You would be fun to hang and trade with...

Good job..I too had to prune all my fig roots back two months early! Crazy weather as said above..All my fig trees have awaken two months early and I still have until April before I an even think about putting them outside..I like it when they sleep and are just twigs until we can stick them outside.. I have no room for all 20 or so of them to fully open...lol

What are your favorite figs? You have the same weather as me I'm thinking so short growing season.I am always looking for the sweetest that ripens the quickest and one that puts out a good breba crop..

Take care for now

Mikerno the figs are still dormant here in garage as usual.

I try to wake them up as early as possible sometime in march (weather permitting) as i wheel them out onto blacktop driveway and back in garage at night .

Favorite is B.Madeira a difficult fig for most growers to ripen and ripen properly before season ends in cold climates.

Berry tasting type fig and tops on personal palate every year i grow in several large containers. Nothing beats it here but that is my personal palate.

Hardy Chicago i enjoy much a very underrated fig in my opinion as its very common now a days very reliable in my climate and any grower should have success with it.

There are a few others as well .

As for breba if they get them i knock them off because early spring weather is not

proper for them to be consistent .

One should grow what does well in there climate otherwise it may be discouraging.

Martin

Bumping this thread a little late for most as many have figs past dormancy or awakening as i type this but saw my name mentioned on another forum and also on some sort of blog about some guy from Chicago that ripens figs starting out on his driveway in early spring so i thought i would bump this thread.

Yes that is called the fig shuffle . ; )

The 9 inch wood pruning blade is the blade that makes these cuts a very easy

Whatever way one may root prune is fine but growing in containers it needs to be done every so many years depending on plant type and size container or plant will slowly decline and worst case death as it slowly strangles itself.

Best

Martin

Where is the most recent comment that brought this thread back from the dead? I don't see it(

Last one I see is from 3 years ago. Boy this forum is loosing it.

Hi Martin,

Thanks for bumping this!

I have a tree that will need pruned next spring, your pictures are very helpful!

I wanted to do it this spring, but life has been crazy and she woke up sooner than I thought she would! lol

I really need a recip saw, guess my tree is a good reason to go shopping. :-) lol...

JoJo

JoJo ,

The reciprocating saw was 19.99 when bought at harbor freight its now 24.00 , the one bought was made by Chicago Electric and the 5 pk of 9" wood pruning blades was 8-9 dollars.

Here its used for fig plant root pruning and very effective for thick branch pruning on regular yard and parkway tree's.

Martin

Thank you Martin!

I will check it out Sat. I have a harbor freight near me and I was planning to go to a store right next to it.. (tractor supply )

I have 2 trees that need pruned from time to time. And 2 nasty old junipers I am in the process of removing, so I've been thinking of getting a saw anyway.

My fig has been 2 years in the same pot, and will need root pruned next year.

The fun part will be catching it in time. LOL!!! we have mild winters, and she leafed out on me in a blink of an eye this spring. lol

JoJo

@dieseler

Hi Martin! Thanks again for the tip on the saw. I got one today at Harbor freight , priced as you said.

It will come in handy for sure!

I have 2 old junipers to remove/ with huge roots to cut!

3 other tree's that need constant up keep.

And my fig to root prune next spring.

By the way...

good to see you still here. I remember you from Garden web . :-)

JoJo

Hi Jo Jo

hopefully that tool makes things easier for you.

Did you change your GW screen name, mine luckily stayed the same across all forums.

Good ole garden web this forum seems about the same although the personal info like how long one has been a member cannot be found least i do not see it.

Belong to Figs4Fun when it was around and Friends of the Fig Society both no longer around.

Best

Martin

Good Morning Martin,

I know it will be a big help! And get plenty of use around here. I was thinking of getting a small chain saw to finish getting the old junipers out, but this will work , and I will have it for other pruning too.

I did change a little, I added the year to my name. I left for awhile when it became Houzz. I did not like the changes, and life had many difficulties at the time, so I just stopped looking in. I could not remember any of my old log in info so had to start over. LOL!

I was mainly in Cactus and succulents, and containers, when it was garden web.

I started to rebuild my collection about a year ago and decided to give houzz a second chance. lol.

I'm fairly new to figs.

I've had my inground fig about 5 yrs. but it hasn't grown but a few inches! I'm baffled. I thing the old junipers I am removing may be part of the problem.

My container fig I've had about 2 yrs now.

Doing O.K. but I think also not getting enough sun in the winter. So this winter I will be moving her.

Have a great day!

JoJo

JoJo i bet your right about your in ground fig plant not growing well and the junipers may be the problem as junipers like acidic soil.

Perhaps over the years that area's soil is not favorable for your fig plants right where the evergreens are and have been dropping there needles into the soil over the years.

Kind of confused when you mention potted fig not getting enough sun in the winter though, are you in a warm climate where the plant does not go dormant or something which i have never experience being near Chicago. ; )

Martin

Normally I use a Japanese root saw to cut wedges in the root ball when I need. Something like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bonsai-Tree-Repotting-Tool-Saw-Blade-Sickle-7-Plants-Root-Sod-Soil-Cutter-Blade/283769391511?hash=item4211f94997:g:Ge4AAOSwfVpYqOnK

It has very fine sharp blade that cuts in the pull direction (like all japanese saws). I feel I have a lot of control that way. It takes a little bit longer than a recip saw. Also if there are thick roots then shears/pruners may be needed.

You will also find that finer tooth blade for recip saw may get you better cuts through roots. I use metal cutting blades to go through roots and goes smoother. Give it a try. Wood blades work better on wood. They have coarser deeper tooth geometry.

Hi Martin,

yes, I'm in a warm area. Tucson, Az. I think zone 9b (please don't hate. lol)

The Junipers haven't dropped much in the area the inground fig is, but it's the shade it causes and surface roots around the fig I think are the problem.

My inground fig is in shade at least 80% of the day due to two junipers that are about 10' tall! and surface roots from them are robbing the fig of water and nutrients.

The inground (brown turkey) drops it's leaves with the first frost.

My container fig (Ruby) was a stinker this year and held on to some of hers. lol All winter she grew a few new, dropped a few , but never went bare.

In a blink of an eye, she leafed out this spring. So her root prune has been put off till next winter/spring.

As far as the light she gets, it's in my driveway, so it's shaded some in the morning, and late after noon from the neighbors place. (I'm in a trailer park, so it's a long driveway) So I am going to move her down the driveway about 10' so it will get more sun.

JoJo

@tropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)

Thanks for sharing that info! Interesting looking saw!

I only have 1 container tree right now , so I think the Recip. saw will do just fine. I also have other tree's that will need trimming.

I will get a metal blade. Thank you!

I also have a jig saw (that I use on smaller branches when trimming trees. lol) and sheers.

JoJo

I am still using it the old fashion way, using tools 40 some years old. They cut roots cleanly.

On average, I only repot figs 4 or 5 yearly. Less than an hour per tree.

Hi Bob, still have some of Dad's old tools and use them often monkey wrenches, ball peen hammer and such nothing special but made to last.

For many years root pruned with hand saw etc the electric saw for me personally helps a great deal nowadays.

Martin

Hi Bob!

A lot can be said for the old fashioned way too! I really could use a new pruning tools, but with covid, it's hard to motivate to shop. I'm a cashier and after 40hrs a week in a mask and around people I just want to hide on my days off. lol

I see you did your tree in Feb. May I ask what part of the states your in?

With our crazy roller coaster temps, and warmish winters, I'm not sure when I should do my tree and I do not want to miss the window again this year. She really needs it!

I'm thinking maybe I should do mine in Feb. too.

JoJo

Jojo, depending zone, I am in z 7a, so February is a good time to do. March should still be good for 7b and 6b. Btw I am in North/west Ark. Don’t know your location.

Hi Bob,

Sorry, forgot to mention it. I'm in Az. I think it's zone 9b.

The tree woke very early March this year. So I'm thinking I may need to do it in Jan. or Feb.

Hi guys, can someone explain to me how to start a new post ?

I tried this and that way and it's not working 🤔

Thank you.

@bluemoonlight Go to the forum where you want to post. The front page will have a box/window that says "Start a discussion". Click it. When the new window opens, type in your subject or question that will be the title of your post. Immediately below that is a box that says "Tell us the specific details here". That's where you type your actual post. Then click "NEXT". That takes you to a list of forums. Choose all the ones where you want your post to appear. Click "POST". You're done.

John

Thank you John, I am about to try it.

Nice of you to visit here.

How are you fig trees ?

I bet your are out soaking the sun !

@bluemoonlight Today I just took all my figs (more than 65 of them...too many at my age!) out of the garage for what should be the last time this Spring. For the next 10 days, the lowest temp is forecast to be 39F, and our average last frost date is the 21st. Hopefully I'm in the clear, and can finally put my CAR in the garage, instead of figs, lol.

Thanks for your response John.

65 fig trees I bet they must take whole double garage, right ?

I have about 40 but only about 15 in larger the 5 gallon containers.

The other are young 2- 3 years old.

Lately I have been finding that lots of them are same only they called different 🤔

Have you been growing fig trees for long time ?

Jojo, why are yours in containers?

Bob,

I am in a trailer park, not a lot of options for in ground. Very small yard. Where the sun is the best exposure , is where my water line is, so I can't put anything in the ground. . So 1 tree is in a container.

JoJo

Well, you can be more specific with what to grow. I would suggest, 2 Smith figs and 4 of your choice and be done.

I'm not sure what you mean? Grow in containers?

Figs in containers: 10 or 15 gl containers, squat design, not tall but wide ones. Figs roots go wide instead deep.