That’s the nature of figs. They don’t grow single trunked naturally. The problem demonstrated in the picture is that there isn’t really enough room for a fig however it‘s pruned.

I always see figs as multi-branching. In fact, what is often done is to propagate them by taking either suckers or bending down lower branches to the ground, letting them root in, and then potting them up. I know it's not, but you photo looks like they are growing through the paving stone. Keep in mind that fig roots can be aggressive and I wonder if they would eventually damage your paving stones.

@Margaritaville (Zone 7b/NJ) Hi there, I love the idea of letting lower branches root in and and potting them up. I can give gifts to others in exchange for all the plants people have gifted to me over the years. ------------ But aside from letting those branches root first and then cut them - my logic is correct that if I want height, I should cut the bottom branches eventually? It's a very strange looking tree right now. Or do people just leave the lower branches stay too and end up with a tree that looks a little weird?

Alex, in NJ they are almost always left to go au natural and do their multi-branching thing. One reason for this is that even in Zone 7 they can get hit hard by a bad winter with some top growth damage (especially if not protected), but they root sucker so readily that there'll be enough of the plant to survive, In your area you may see them trained as standards more, come to think of it, I saw a huge specimen in a local greenhouse that looked more like a standard tree rather than a sprawling, out of control bush.

Fig growers here in CA cut the trees back to keep them low and multi-stemmed for heavier crop with easier picking. I have one that just came up on it's own out of nowhere. Last year it was a cute 4 footer; this year it's 10-12 feet tall. Once it goes dormant I'll cut it back to about 3 feet. It has some lower branches too and I'll cut those back as well.

@CA Kate z9 From 12 feet back down to 3 ft? That's amazing. I had no idea it is possible to cut them down back down so much. My first time with a fig tree.

What growing zone are you Alex ?

How many seasons is that fig in ground ?

You will need to move that fig tree further from paving stone !

@bluemoonlight I'm in Zone 10, Los Angeles. That's bad news because I don't have any other place. It will definitely damage the paver? It's been in the ground a year. A friend grew in a pot from seed.

'Fig roots are notoriously invasive and potentially, destructive to structures.

Figs do grow well in containers btw.

@Margaritaville (Zone 7b/NJ) Thanks a lot for the tip. Do you happen to know if avocado trees are also aggressive? I can put this in a container and plant an avocado I have in a pot.

Alex, post your question about avocados to the tropical fruit growers, not sure about those, but figs specifically are notorious.