Wait to see ripe fruit before you think about transplanting it. If it is a seedling there is a 50% chance it is a male fig and not edible.

There actually are two figs on the biggest sapling - still quite firm. When do they usually ripen? So far they are green in color. The main sapling is quite tall, too, at least 8 feet.

In my area zone 9a Texas figs usually ripen in June and July. They will sometimes put on a later crop but if figs are already on the tree I would think they would ripen before the end of July. There are people that could give you a better estimate of a ripening date, I have only been growing figs for about 4 years.

When you mentioned the ripe figs do you mean the males will produce figs that are inedible, or that they don't produce fruit at all? Also, will it be difficult to move an in-ground tree (i.e. are the roots deep or shallow)? I know nothing about figs, other than they are good eating :)

Male figs do make "figs" that look the same on the outside but are dry, inedible and filled with pollinator wasps. The second thing to think about with seedlings is most females will require and male tree and the wasp to set fruit (they live in California, assuming that is where you are).

Fig trees are tough to dig up because they have a large spreading root system, they tolerate transplant well though. You would want to do it when there is cool weather (winter in zone 9) and will need to water them until they are re-established.

Well shoot it sounds like this might be more trouble than it's worth with no guarantee that this is a female, anyway. I hate just removing it but it can't stay where it is, either, especially if the root system spreads - it's right next to the house. :( Thank you so much for your help and advice!

If they must be dug asap and you want to save them trim off the entire top, leave just stump, dig and transplant that . That will balance the tree and help it survive the transplant and reduce the amount of water needed to become re-established. They are really tough plants.

If you want to try grafting those would make great rootstocks. Anyway, good luck with them.

Thanks again, I may just try the stump idea!