I've been wondering if somehow incorperating the compost pile would work? That is, rather than covering the tree with dirt, use the giant fall compost pile after it cools down a bit. Every fall when I add all my yard leaves and debris and soak it down it get's hot, but then winter settles in and it cools down. So why not at that point, transfer the pile to cover the bent over fig tree? It will generate some heat and still insulate. I have a pineapple plant growing in a pot, which I found rooting in the middle of my compost pile a couple of springs ago. The only point I contemplate about is whether a person would be best of first covering the fig tree with dry leaves or straw and then something like a cheap old sheet or plastic and then put the compost on as a top layer. That way I think a person would be least apt to damage the tree too much while digging it out in the spring. Thoughts?

It is probably just resting. Just kidding. Mine do that at this time of the year too. They get floppy. I pull off the offending leaves if they bother me too much, even though I suppose that isn't good for the plant. Renee

Hi Barrie. As I said, this is the 1st year in the ground. All but (2) of the same variety (Brightwell) were 1 year old plants , the Brightwell were said to be 2 years old plants. They all looked the same to me. I planted (8) total plants, (2) of each kind. And though growth habits are somewhat similar, not all have grown the same. The attached pic is a Brightwell that shot up a lone cane that grew to 50" before I cut the top off to about 36" to prevent a floppy berry supporter next year. This Brightwell is now 5'-0 wide. And I think too much growth has gone into horizontal branches that don't look anything like berry supporting wood. I believe that I could have directed more upward growth in lieu of as shown in the pic. That is a tangled mess of crossing branches on the sides.. I have only internet experience. Training/pruning properly appears to be my latest challenge. And it appears to be an important one. How tall are your berry bushes versus their width? My end goal is still only getting blueberries. I have never grown a blueberry that didn't die within 30 days probably? I have never picked a blueberry. I am growing them for my wife. Married 30 years this year, I thought she deserved my best effort. (she doesn't look at them. LOL)

"Personally I have not tried it, but I believe it does increase fruit production. Evidently it must, or so many groves would not be doing it."... This is how it starts.... someone says something; someone picks up on it and spreads it; and pretty soon everyone is saying it. I have NEVER seen a citrus grove where they are bending the branches to increase production. I have seen a few apple and pear orchards where they are experimenting with that; but it is a far cry from an industry standard practice. With apples and pears it depends on how they are planted and/or trellised; but even then it is a method of creating a new apical bud by bending down the branch; that will produce more branches and maybe more fruit in coming years; but again that depends on spacing, trellising, etc. At the risk of creating new chaos, I find the same issue with Neem oil. I would like to know who started this "craze" Now it seems everyone is either using Neem or recommending it to someone else. UNDERSTAND THIS .. Neem is a broad spectrum insecticide; it kills all of your beneficials... wasps, ladybugs, preying mantis, hoverfly, etc ad nauseum. iT IS BEST TO NOT USE BROAD SPECTRUM INSECTICIDES; unless perhaps they are systemic.