Is your fig tree( bush) planted in similar conditions ?

Are they same variety ?

How old is your friend fig ?

Is your friend fig tree as old as your fig ?

Mine are about 4-5 years old. I have a few different ones, one of them may be the same variety as hers. Hers is quite a few years older than mine. Hers is partially shaded whereas all of mine are in full sun.

Whether or not yours is the same type as your friends, make sure you have hardy varieties. I'd suggest you grow them in decent size pots, 20+ gals, for a few years overwintering them in a sheltered location such as an unheated garage or shed. Once the trunks get a couple inches of girth you may be able to get one to survive outside without complete die back.

So you're suggesting that I dig up all of them and put them in pots?

You could dig one or two of them up and pot them, or start with cuttings and grow them in pots a few years. I'm actually a little surprised you have complete die back every year in your zone, but I don't know the varieties or micro-climate you're working with.

You're not going to get many figs if the branches die back each year because much of the production is on last years branches. You can either grow them in large pots and bring them into your garage over the winter, or you can leave them in the ground, pile a mound of mulch around the base, and wrap them completely with insulating material so the branches (hopefully) don't die back. However, I'm a bit surprised if you are having this problem in an 8a Zone, because that's similar to mine in the Pacific NW and I have never had a problem with fig dieback on my in-ground figs...and I have about 15 different species.

Good to know! My fig "trees" look healthier and bigger this year, hopefully they won't die back at the end of this year.

I'm in Dallas, too. My guess is that you have a variety that is not good in our zone. It sounds as if it would be better for a warmer climate. If you purchased it from a big box store, that is probably your problem.

A got mine from a friend. He rooted a cutting for me from his bush. My bush does not die back to the ground. It loses it's leaves when we have our first freeze and buds back out in the spring. It had a hard time getting started, as some nut pulled it out of the ground soon after I planted it. I found it across the street. I replanted it, but it took a couple of years to recover. I got a few figs last year, but it's loaded this year. It's only about 4 ft. tall.

My advice is to get one from Northhaven Gardens or one of the better nurseries. Whatever they have will be suited to our climate and soil.

bkay

edit: mine is in full sun

Mine are all in full sun. I have a couple from another friend whose fig trees are tall and strong, they're in Richardson. So I thought they'd behave the same since we're only miles apart.