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Pruning a fig tree to make it short and wide
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Posted by kivasgrandma CA Cntrl Coast (My Page) on Sun, Feb 7, 10 at 19:49
Hi out there,
I have a "rockery" between my entry courtyard and some guest parking spaces. Actually it is a dirt berm about 3 feet tall, 6 feet wide with rocks placed carefully here and there, plus there is a short block wall on the courtyard side. I would like to have a short, wide fig tree on the (east facing) parking side to hide the cars and a view of the street. But I still want to be able to see over the tree. It would need to be only 3-4 feet tall but it could be as wide as it wanted. Is it possible to prune figs this short? Will they branch at say 1 foot or so if cut back as whips? I am thinking of using White Genoa since I am only 4 miles from the ocean near San Luis Obispo, in a cool, frosty, northwest facing canyon. I hear it is good for cool coastal climates. Or should I just forget it and go for manzanita instead?
Thanks in advance! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Pruning a fig tree to make it short and wide
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| kg: Figs are great espaliers. You can create a framework of posts and wires with horizontals at 2 feet and 4 feet. Then train your fig along the two horizontals, with two arms go one way and two arms go the other. Joe |
RE: Pruning a fig tree to make it short and wide
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| Thanks for the quick reply. Should I start out wiring the top to go one way and wait for some branches to grow to go the other way? Or just take off the top and do it all with branches? |
RE: Pruning a fig tree to make it short and wide
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| I was going to write the same question, but I don't want mine espaliered... just short and branchy. When do I prune the 8' tall several branches to accomplish this? |
RE: Pruning a fig tree to make it short+
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| kg: Stick two 6-foot posts into the ground, 2-feet deep, 8 feet apart. Tie heavy wire near the top (your 4-foot horizontals) and tie heavy wire at about 2-feet up from the ground (your 2-foot horizontal arms). Plant your fig in the middle. Cut it off just above the top of the posts, retaining any existing lateral branches that might become one of your four arms. As new laterals develop, choose the most effective ones to tie to each of the four wire arms. Cut off anything that wants to continue to grow upwards. and westelle: Prune your 8-foot tall branches when they were 4-feet tall. Joe ;) |
RE: Pruning a fig tree to make it short and wide
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| OK, Joe. Are you saying it's too late to make them grow short? |
RE: Pruning a fig tree to make it short and wide
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| Nope westelle, only that it would have been better to have done in early on in the training. But figs, fortunately, are pretty forgiving as to pruning. Do what you think you need to do. Joe |
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