How to kill a fig tree?

18 years ago

This probably sounds like heresy to some on this forum, but I need to kill a wild fig tree that is growing in an awkward spot? Has anyone killed one intentionally?

Thanks in advance

David

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Comments (3)

fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
18 years ago
David:

You are right, most here couldn't kill a fig. But I once lived near the worthless wild kind and I'm not a fig lover unless they're dried! Anyway, I'd try a very heavy dose of Roundup applied to the foliage when the tree is growing rapidly. After the leaves fall off, cut the top down. Wait if you can to see if the tree sprouts back from the ground. If so wait until it gets a foot or two tall and spray again. That will likely do the trick. If there is no sensitive vegetation nearby, adding some 2,4D to the Roundup would help.

The Fruitnut
bjs496
18 years ago
FIRST THE DA VINCI CODE, NOW THIS... IS NOTHING SACRED ANYMORE???

LOL. I would think you could use a shovel and cut a 18-24 inch(60cm if my math is correct) diameter ring around the tree about 12-16 inches (40cm) deep, and pull it out while beating the soil off the roots to fill your hole. I've begun digging a tree out of the ground to move back into a pot, so I'm taking more of the root mass with it, but I am using this method.

~james
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The tree was thriving early in the morning and two hours later looked horrible. Then the same the day after. I eventually added AS, just a tiny bit, and another week later it stopped getting witted. ==>>> you are trying to love this thing to death ... classic symptoms of transplant shock ... the roots not able to pump enough water.. during the heat of the day ... with recovery in dark... no sun .. as you were told.. all you needed was water ... IMHO ... you got very lucky you didnt love it to death ... with the AS ... you have been repeatedly told its time for it to go dormant ... which means.. in my book.. stop all fertilizer or soil amendments.. until it starts to grow in spring ... hyper fert'g late in the season.. has the potential to interfere with proper hardening off to dormancy ... and that is usually.. not good ... please... try not to love it to death ... and good luck ken
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I can't speak specifically to the issue of a fig tap root, but I got a potted Julie mango from a friend in 1/2 of a rotting oak barrel and when the owner moved it, the tap root broke off also. I put it in the ground immediately and It wilted for a while and sprang back with a bit of extra water. Now it's healthy, but I have to water it more frequently than my other mango trees as it will show wilting stress while my others will not when its dry for a long time. From what I know the taproot serves two purposes, getting deeper water, and resistance to wind. If your fig recovers hopefully it's in a spot that's protected from wind. You may also have to water it more than in the past? My best advice is to not let it die of thirst. Again this has been my experience with a mango and a few ornamental plants, and experts may have a different take on it.
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Did it come that way with the mulch when you bought it? the way you described the roots, it was severely under watered. You mainly need to worry about over watering when the tree is inside and in a soil made up mostly of peat. Pebbles are not needed at the bottom and do not help with drainage. They actually keep the soil from draining as it would without them. A soil made up of 5 parts pine bark, 1 part peat and 1 part perlite would be a good choice. You should read these two links: your ficus lyrata has pretty much the same cultural needs as ficus benjamina. http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/1493078/ficus-trees-in-containers http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/2842847/container-soils-water-movement-and-retention-xxii?n=418
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greenwitch
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Yeah, I asked this question last year when a bird planted a tree in an inconvenient spot in the backyard - the fruit is huge, dry and insipid though. After all the shrieks and fainting, someone recommended wrapping tightly some wire around the trunk or remove the bark and cambium all the way around.

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How to kill a fig tree?

Comments (3)

fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX

bjs496

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greenwitch

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