How to Prune a Fig Tree for an Abundant Harvest, According to Horticulturists Regular pruning is essential to ensure a healthy and productive fig tree. In This Article View All In This Article When to Prune Pruning a Young Fig Tree Pruning a Mature Fig Tree Post-Pruning Care Close Credit: Getty / Jasenka Arbanas Fig trees (Ficus carica) thrive in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 10, though they can also grow in colder areas with proper protection. In addition to providing shade and beauty to your yard—not to mention delicious fruit—fig trees also help with soil retention and erosion control. Pruning a fig tree annually is the gardener's secret to maintaining a happy and healthy tree. It promotes fruit production and new growth, keeps the tree at a manageable size, and enhances overall health. Trimming away dead or diseased branches improves air circulation, minimizes the risk of fungal diseases, and boosts yield. Ahead, experts explain how to prune a fig tree to ensure it stays healthy and provides ample fruit. Becky Sideman, a professor of horticulture at the University of New Hampshire Lorin Nielsen, head horticulturist at Epic Gardening, a supplier of seeds, live plants, and gardening essentials 9 Fruit Trees You Can Grow Indoors, According to Horticulturists When to Prune a Fig Tree Fig trees should be pruned in early spring when they are still dormant and before growth begins for the season, says Becky Sideman, a professor of horticulture at the University of New Hampshire. The ideal window for pruning a fig tree is between late February and early March before any new growth appears. Fig trees release less sap when they're pruned during this period, minimizing the risk of disease or damage. How to Prune a Young Fig Tree Pruning young fig trees is essential for establishing their overall shape, especially if you're growing them in pots, says Sideman. Wait to prune newly planted fig trees until after their first growing season. After the first year of growth, regular pruning helps the tree develop a strong central leader and promotes a desirable shape. Identify Scaffold Branches Before pruning, choose a few scaffold branches to support future fruit. A scaffold branch is a permanent branch that forms the main framework of the tree. Cut Back Last Year's Growth Cut back half of the previous year's growth. This encourages the tree to focus its energy on developing a robust root system. Remove Dead, Diseased, or Crossing Branches Cut any dead, diseased, or crossing branches while retaining the healthiest scaffold branches. Since figs produce their fruit on new wood, it is crucial to prune away dead or diseased branches and cut back any excessively long shoots from the previous year. This encourages vigorous growth from the remaining buds. 10 Fresh Fig Recipes to Make This Season How to Prune a Mature Fig Tree Like a young fig tree, a mature fig should be pruned while dormant and without leaves, not during active growth phases. "This allows you to examine the branches closely without having leaves or new growth in the way," says Lorin Nielsen, head horticulturist at Epic Gardening. When pruning a mature fig tree, avoid removing more than 30 percent of the tree’s canopy in a given year. Your tree needs time to heal, and trees pruned too heavily are at risk of becoming stressed and sending out a lot of random growth that may not be as resilient,” says Nielsen. Heavily pruned branches may also produce less fruit that year due to reduced growing space, so it’s wise to limit your pruning to just a few branches each year. Remove Dead, Diseased, or Crossing Branches Look for branches that crisscross and thin them out to open the canopy and allow for good airflow. “Similarly, if you see any dead or diseased wood, now is the time to remove it and leave only healthy, living wood behind,” says Nielsen. Prune for Overall Structure If you have branches going out from the canopy in a direction you don’t want them to go (such as towards a nearby wall or fence), Nielsen says to cut them off flush to the trunk; this prevents the fig from producing new growth from the branch stump. Prune Tall Branches If your fig tree has tall branches with most of the new growth concentrated at the tips, this may make the fruit harder to reach. "Resetting the tree by trimming the longer branches to a more manageable height is a good practice every few years," says Nielsen. The tree will continue to produce new growth from what remains of the older branches, so try to leave at least a 4-inch stump for each branch. Leave Young Branches Nielsen recommends leaving younger, shorter branches in place unless they’re growing in a direction you don’t want. "Many of the younger branches may be carrying 'fruitlets' or embryonic figs at their tip," she says. These teardrop-shaped growths on the younger branches can mature into whole fruits later, so keeping them intact will increase future harvests. How to Prune an Apple Tree So It Produces Fruit for Years to Come How to Care for a Fig Tree After Pruning While there are no specific post-cutting requirements, there are a few things to do to ensure your fig tree stays healthy after pruning. Monitor Cut Edges Nielsen says it's a good idea to keep an eye on the cut edges of your fig tree after pruning. For example, if your tree experiences heavy rainfall before the cut end fully recovers, monitor it for any bacterial issues or rot. Keep the Soil Moist Fig trees need water to stay healthy (even when they're not actively growing), so ensure the soil remains moist. “Mulch can be beneficial, but as with any tree, avoid volcano mulching," says Nielsen. Piling mulch up against the base of the trunk holds moisture against that part of the trunk and can cause rot or fungal damage. Fertilize Regularly Regularly feeding your tree a balanced fertilizer is a good idea, says Nielsen. “Younger trees will need extra fertilizer, but more mature trees often need it most in the spring and as fruit is swelling," she says. Explore more: Garden