Taking Care and Planting the Fig Trees

How to take care of the Fig Trees? 

We know this tree to be among the popular ones on the lawn. These are known for their simple growing nature and capability of thriving with minimal care. However, you still need some primary level care to encourage better growth and yield better fruit. Now, let’s check the the key things you need to to take care of the fig tree: 

Sun Exposure 

The fig trees require a sunny spot in your lawn,which is classified as receiving full fun to partial shade. The fruit trees require so much sun as they can possibly soak in for producing the greatest amount of fruit. The minimum sun exposure the trees get is 7 to 8 hours. However, the fruit yield will be down. 

Climate 

You can find them thriving in different areas during the hot summers and mild winters, making them popular trees in the western and southern states during the colder climate. These can easily grow even inside the greenhouse, like a container plant. 

Fig trees comfortably grow in the USDA Hardiness Zones. It grows easily in colder climates during the extreme winters, provided it gets decent protection. In the climate below Zone 8, you can keep the figure in containers and bring them inside during the winter. 

Soil 

The fig trees often demand for well-draining soil regardless of the nutritional or organic matter content. We can find sandy soil as the preferred option compared to clays or loams. Perhaps this is the reason why figs are extremely popular in the Western And Southern parts of the UN where the soil is sandy in nature. 

If you have heavier or more complicated soil, you need to loosen it up before planting. One of the best ways of doing this is to amend the yard with organic matter, like finishes composed of any well-rotted manure. However, you need to maintain the depth upto 24 inches. On the contrary, we may not find soil pH as not an essential option like drainage as long as we see pH to be extremely low or even overly high. 

Water Requirements 

The newly planted trees often demand frequent watering until their roots are established. If you can add a layer of mulch all over the base of the fig tree, it can help retain the soil moisture. 

Once the fig tree is established, it demands less water. You must water the plant for one inch once a week while in its active growing season. It could be either through rain or scheduled irrigation. 

Fertilizer 

Fig trees require low maintenance and can easily grow happily with little or no fertilizing. You can find the nutrients coming from the organic matter. Adding fertilizer in the early growing season, you need to follow the direction on the product label. 

Also, you need to avoid fertilizers rich in nitrogen, as they promote green or lush foliage rather than fruit development. Applying once a fortnight can help add the beneficial throughout the growing phase of the tree and can help in making it a bit paltry. 

Pruning 

One of the key reasons why fig trees are so popular among homeowners is that they require a little pruning compared to other fruit trees. They are known to appear neat and clean without requiring any intervention for the same. You just need careful pruning once a year suffices; it will also help the tree to harvest fruit. 

Once you see the tree growing dormant during the fall season, you need to prune out dead or deceased branches to boost the tree’s overall health. If you find the tree extremely overloaded with fruits during the growing season, you can easily make it thin as it will boost up tastier and larger fruit in the next season. 

Overwintering 

If you are based in a place where the temperature drops to 10 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, keep in mind that you need to plant one of the cold hardy varieties of figs like Hardy Chicago, Brown Turkey or Cieste. Besides, you must take a few steps to protect the trees from the cold winter temperatures. 

During the winter months, you need to bring the container-grown tree inside your property. Also, you need to allow all the trees to lose their leaves when it is still outside, and then you bring them out inside to any dry or cool place. Also, many more people are keen on getting attracted to the garage or basement area where the temperature is getting cooler while the trees are going dormant. 

You need to allow the trees to lose the leaves while it is outside and then bring them inside any dry and cool place within your property. You can place them over the cooler temperatures where the trees have gone dormant. 

Once the temperature is average, move the fig tree back to the same place on your lawn. During springs, the temperature is above 35 degrees. 

Add simple insulation that helps in giving away good winter protection to finds in the yard. Also, you can plan to make a car over the trunk using chicken wire and then fill the same using straw or dried leaves. Do not wrap the tree trunk with plastic. 

How to Plant a Fig Tree? 

Planting a fig tree involves following the seven steps given below: 

1. With a strong digging shovel, you need to dig a hole bigger than a root system on your tree. Follow this rule for planting both the container or bare root tree. 
2. Spread and massage the roots by taking proper care of them without damaging them. 
3. Set the tree over the mound or loose dirt with the bottom of the hole. You can set it up at the correct soil level a couple of inches deeper while planking it over the final pot and then keep it at the same level. 
4. Slowly tamp the soil over the foot by filling the whole and then try to remove all the air pockets without compacting the soil over the roots. Create a depression or slight brown over the hole to make the water settle down naturally. Avoid mounding soil over the trunk. 
5. If you are planing for bare root trees, you need to get rid of the branches over the top of the tree to around half of the original length. 
6. Spread mulch to some extent over the base of the fig tree. Make sure you keep it away from the bark on the trunk. 
7. Make sure you water the newly planted trees by going slowly. It will help settle the soil all over the roots and allow the air pockets to go away. 

Where to plant a fig tree? 

First, you need to plant the tree in the container or ground. Both options have their pros and cons. However, your decision will depend upon the USDA hardiness zone where you are located. 

If you are based in zones 8 to 11, you are allowed to plant the tree in the yard (in the soil) as they can sustain during winter. However, for the zones having colder winters, you can opt for the container option, as you can easily bring the trees inside when the temperature falls down. 

When to plant a fig tree? 

Plant the fig tree during the late winter or early spring when you find the trees are still dormant. Once you see the frost disappearing from the grown, you can consider planting it. 

Avoid planting the trees during the fall months as it may fail to give them sufficient time to grow the root system. You can start developing the plant during winter or during the dormant time when the soil freezes. 

In conclusion, planting a fig tree is a simple task requiring less maintenance. However, dealing with ailments and diseases requires professional advice. You can call Eden for more details as it is one of the competent groups in this area. Call for more information!