If that was my tree I would wait until figs ripen.

After tree goes dormant then prune one third off of it, prune it to something like Jay's fig tree ⤵️

I am showing it to you just as an example, I wouldn't go as hard on it at first pruning.

After pruning I would graft some diferent varieties on it 🙂

Where are you from ?

I'm from California (San Luis Obispo area....I want to say zone 8A?). I absolutely love figs so I won't lie when I say that I was very excited to see a mature fig tree. Additional varieties would certainly be a nice plus.

As bluemoonlight points out, don't prune the whole thing...otherwise you will get no fruit next year. I have over a dozen fig trees in the ground, and I prune parts of them each year to keep them in the 6'-8' range, while still getting a good crop of figs.

Too tall may be a matter of opinion :-) Figs routinely grow 15-30' tall in an orchard setting and there are many examples of productive yet full sized tree in my Puget Sound area. They are rather dramatic ornamental trees by virtue of their great, bold foliage. But there is no reason why you can't keep it smaller. Just remember that a mature, full sized tree will generally not tolerate radical pruning well. Only take it back by a third.

btw, the Wilson Brothers website has good article on fig pruning.

gardengal-

I generally agree with everything you said. I keep mine smaller so I'm not on tall ladders or climbing in the branches. And a shorter size makes it possible to drape them easily with bird netting so I can eat most of the crop myself. ;-)

I guess a follow up question...

The tree looks fine. Even if I'm too lazy to ever bother getting a ladder to collect the high figs, is there any disadvantage to an otherwise tall tree?

Likewise, is there anything I can do to promote growth of branches nearer the ground?

Somewhat related, someone mentioned grafting earlier. Is there a type of place I can hire than will trim the tree and graft additional varieties onto the tree?

Google it, for sure there must be, tones of fig intusiest in California !

I'm just scared to prune it because it seems to be a very prolific producer and I would hate to do something that would mess that up moving forward. Of course I think pruning is required in order to get new varieties because I have no idea where to put them without a major prune.

I can't imagine a good pruning messing anything up except that you would get less fruit anyways on a smaller tree. I have to cut mine back all the time in containers and they still produce well.