I grow all of my many figs trees in the ground in my zone 9 climate...... It is important not to let the soil around a young in ground fig tree ever get completely dry for the first year or two after it is planted. Keeping the soil moist will allow the tree to quickly develop a good root system. Keeping the ground moist around a young fig tree in dry summer months is actually more important to the tree's growth than giving it fertilizer........something a fig tree does not need a lot of. However, they will respond real well to light applications of 8-8-8 fertilizer sprinkled directly on the ground around the tree....and then watered in after each application. Dan

I air layered a small stunted branch on a Jolly Tiger Fig tree and want to see if it grows stronger once removed from the tree. Here is a link that might be useful: Jolly Tiger Air Layer video

@Suzi, the soil drains well and its not very clay. the tree is on a slope and the soils contains lots of small rocks. @baldeagleomelette, i think the tree is atleast 5 years old(dont know exactly when it was planted) @Hooserbanana, what are the recommended salt levels for the soil and the what is the mechanism to find those levels.