Help! The main branch/trunk fell down

8 years ago

I need advice, please. I’ve had a brown turkey fig tree for about 15 years. It grew into a very tall tree, and produced loads of figs. A few years ago, after really cold winters (Washington DC), it died, or so I thought. I had the trunk cut down to live wood, about 2 foot high. It grew branches from the ground, as well as from the base of the trunk. Last year, as I was picking, a branch broke off at the base of the tree. It didn’t come completely off, and luckily the figs on it continued to ripen. But that branch didn’t come back this year. Meanwhile, one of the branches from the base had grown tall, trunk-like, about 4 inches in diameter. It was loaded with figs which had started ripening and I was competing with the squirrels and birds to pick them. But, very sadly, yesterday, after torrential rain, I came out to find this trunk-like branch totally broken off the stump. All the figs are small and very green. The leaves have withered. There are still other thinner branches with a few green figs on them.

Why do you think this happened and what can I do about it? Should I prune to the ground and hope to start again? Tie up the remaining branches so they don’t break off? Any advice very welcome! Thanks

Featured Answer

Moses, Pitt PA, cold W & hot-humid S, z6

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

The base of your orignal Brn. Turkey from which all your new, multiple trunks emerged probably has places where wood rot has set in starting a few years back when a good bit of the tree winter killed, making for a poor footing for the new trunks. Over the last few years the new trunks got larger and heavier until they could hold up no longer, not having a dependable footing. High winds and heavy rains then made them collapse. You would be amazed at how heavy trunks, branches and leaves get. Then when it rains the wet leaves increase the total tree weight.

Like a house, a fig tree needs a good foundation, or It can collapse.

Moses

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Comments (8)

bluemoonlight
8 years ago
Hi guys, what is wrong ? how do you make post ?
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dancingcook
Original Author
8 years ago
Moses, thanks. I understand now that the trunk that fell grew out of the old trunk, so wasn't anchored in the ground. I'm not yet what I'll do about the others that are also growing out of the trunk. After harvesting what's still growing, I'll assess the situation. Maybe prune them quite severely?
Moses, Pitt PA, cold W & hot-humid S, z6
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
DC,

Pruning back.....not necessarily. First, can you provide closeup photos of different sides of the tree's base area? If the emerging trunk's are more upright and firmly grounded all they may need is stout stakes, like rebar, pounded well into the ground and the truck firmly fastened to them.

Moses
dancingcook
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi Moses, here are some photos. Grateful for your advice!
Moses, Pitt PA, cold W & hot-humid S, z6
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
DC,

The way I look at it you have two options:

1. Rehab the Brown Turkey -

Don't do anything until spring 2019, as soon as you can get outside on a nice day, before the buds of the fig tree begin to break forth. Early March seems about right, you decide, though.

Pick the trunk coming out from the stump the closest to emerging from underground, and that trunk is also the most vertical from where it emerges.

From the last photo you provided, that trunk to me is the farthest one to the right in the photo, the one that has a side branch coming out to its left side from the main trunk, would be my choice. Don't worry about its small size, it is the best one, IMHO. It will get big in no time.

Cut that side branch off that's on the trunk I suggest, flush with the trunk. It is too dominant, and will cause trouble up the road if left to grow.

Remove the old stump flush with the ground and remove all the other trunks as far down underground as possible. He careful not to injure the good trunk.

You should have the single trunk left, nothing else.

Take a 6' rebar and pound it vertically into the ground 4" out from the single trunk. Pound it into the ground at least 2 '.

Train the trunk to this rebar stake, tying the trunk even 10" to the rebar stake with soft cloth, replaced every year until the tree's trunk is nice and strong.

Encourage side branches to form evenly around the trunk.

It should start bearing nice crops in 3 years.
1. Start all over with a new, different variety of fig tree -
Completely dig out the Brown Turkey. A foot out from the dug out stump plant a Chicago Hardy, the hardiest fig I know. It will be the least likely fig tree to winter kill. Its figs are delicious and abundant. Just make sure you buy a virus free tree. Fig Mosaic Virus shows up as light green blotches on new leaves and with twisted new stems with distorted new leaves. It weakens a tree and can spread to healthy trees by virus infected mites from virused trees.

Moses
dancingcook
Original Author
8 years ago
Wow! Thanks so much for all this useful information. You’ve given me much to think about.

I think I’ll try the first option first, and then if that fails, I’ll try option 2.

i really appreciate your help and detailed advice.

Lesley
Moses, Pitt PA, cold W & hot-humid S, z6
8 years ago
Lesley,

Glad to help. I wish you success.

Moses
dancingcook thanked Moses, Pitt PA, cold W & hot-humid S, z6