How do I rescue an abandoned fig tree?

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

This was a single tree, possibly brown turkey, planted over five years ago, then left completely alone. I counted 12 little treelets, tallest is about three feet, down to maybe six inches.

Can I take a sharp spade to this, divide each into its own little rooted tree, and re-plant them all? (Central Virginia, zone 7.)

Featured Answer

dieseler

5 years ago

Steelhanky yes now is the time while dormant , pick a the ouside branches that are furthest from middle of plant leave rest of plant intact if you want to keep it growing. You may hear some cracking noise/snapping etc not to worry though . Also you can consider some airlayers if and when plant wakes up.

Some years back took spade picked furthest outward branch of hardy chicago and dugout with a few roots and planted in pot now its in a 30 gallon pot .

Martin

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Comments (7)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
Are you sure it is even alive? I would wait to see what the root mass looks like after you dig it up. Generally, you cannot divide or separate trees, even if suckers, very easily. You risk killing off the entire plant.
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cecily 7A
5 years ago
Brown turkey over winters in Virginia but the top growth dies back if we get single digit temps (which happens every few winters). It also suckers. The above photo is the typical result - a fig bush. You could dig a sucker but don't expect to grow a tree unless you have a very protected planting site.
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Over a period of many years I have tried a variety of methods to get, in plain words me more fig trees to give away to friends and people I meet that show an interest in growing them. The method that worked well for me is the same as Bass stated by just placing a cutting into a good quality potting soil in a small container with good drainage holes provided. I know over the years that I given out over 150 trees using that method but for some reason this year has been a bummer. The cuttings will not root for me. I'm placing the blame on the weather conditions this year because I keep the potted cuttings on my southern facing covered patio's brick wall. There they get the warmth from the southern facing wall and not direct sunlight but lately we have not had much sun and the days we did get sun the temps where really up there during the day and down during the nights.. I water them so they never dry out. I've done new wood cuttings with just as much success as I did using last years wood until this year. That's why my interest in air layering question asked to make sure I have the information to get it done correctly and have results in the end. I have three people waiting for trees. I wonder if I charged for the trees if anyone would want them. I do it for a hobby and I just can't get myself to throw away any branch I cut from my olive, lemon, bay leaf and fig trees. I just have to pot them up to try and get them growing. I usually give the people I give a tree of any variety I have printed up growing instructions epically if they live in our area where the best method to grow them is in containers and store the covered in a garage or shed during the winter months. Bass I live about 20 miles northwest of Allentown, PA. The town is called Lehighton. Lou NE. PA
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
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most likely ... you need to carefully remove the grass ... and see whats there.. before you can come to any conclusions as to what you can do ...

you might be able to surgically do something with the plant ... but i suspect that just shoving a sharp shovel in the ground.. isnt the best way to go ...

take some more pix.. after you have ti cleaned up ... and we can opine ...

the best time to dig up a plant is in dormancy ... i also suspect.. now might be a good time to dig up the whole thing ... and see what you have ...

ken
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Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
You could always take cuttings. Have you actually had figs from this plant? If they are good, then take cuttings, or dig. If you have not, just purchase a new fig of known variety.
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bluemoonlight
5 years ago
I agree with Martin and his method to dig a few treeless.

Good find steelhanky
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bengz6westmd
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Monticello (Jefferson's Estate) near Charlottesville, VA has figs growing 10 - 15 ft tall (and had been taller earlier), but they were purposely planted on a southeast-facing slope w/excellent cold air drainage that enables them to do much better than average at that 7a climate zone.
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Jason (Zone 10b, San Diego)
5 years ago
Be sure to get some roots if you dig into the ground, if not you'll just have a big cutting.

Another way is to do something similar to an airlayer. Pick a branch, lightly score it near the ground, and mound dirt around the base up about 4-6". Leave alone for 6-8 weeks (needs a good bit of heat too, so late spring summer time frame), then gently brush away some of the dirt to see if you have roots. If you do, cut out the branch below the roots. Instant plant.

You will need to baby the new plant for a bit and ensure that you have enough root ball to support the top leafy portion. You will probably need to strip some of the excess leaves away and cut the remainder of the leaves in half. This will help the new tree from drying out.
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How do I rescue an abandoned fig tree?

dieseler

Comments (7)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

cecily 7A

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A

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