Okay, here’s my blog post about pruning fig trees in containers, written from my personal experience:
So, I’ve got this fig tree, right? It’s in a big pot on my patio. I love figs, but I live where the winters get too cold for them to be in the ground. Last year, it got kinda… unruly. Branches everywhere, not many figs. I knew I needed to do something, so I figured I’d give pruning a shot. It was time to get my hands a bit dirty!
Getting Started
First thing, I waited until the tree was totally dormant. This was late winter, like, February. No leaves, no signs of growth. Just bare branches. I picked a sunny day so it was comfortable for me to work.
I grabbed my tools. Nothing fancy, just:
- Sharp pruning shears: I made sure to clean and sharpen them so I can cut the branches cleanly.
- Gloves: Fig sap can irritate your skin, so gloves are a must.
- A bucket: For collecting the cut branches.
The Pruning Process
I took a good look at the tree. My goal was to open it up, let in more light and air. I also wanted to keep it a manageable size for the pot.
I started by removing any dead, damaged, or diseased branches. These were easy to spot – they looked dry and brittle. I cut them back to the base, or to a healthy, outward-facing bud.
Next, I tackled the crossing branches. These are branches that rub against each other. I chose the stronger of the two and removed the other one. This prevents wounds and lets more air circulate.
Then, I looked for branches that were growing straight up or straight down. These “water sprouts” and “suckers” don’t usually produce fruit, and they just clutter things up. I cut those back to the base, too.
For the remaining branches, I shortened them by about one-third. I made my cuts just above an outward-facing bud. This encourages the new growth to go outwards, rather than inwards, keeping the center of the tree open.
I kept stepping back to look at the overall shape. I wanted a nice, balanced look. It’s like giving the tree a haircut – you want it to look good!
Cleaning Up
Once I was happy with the pruning, I cleaned up all the branches I’d cut off. I also wiped down my pruning shears with rubbing alcohol to disinfect them. You don’t want to spread any potential diseases to other plants.
The Results
It felt a little drastic at first, cutting off so much. But I knew it was for the best. And guess what? It totally paid off! This year, my fig tree is much happier. It’s got a better shape, more sunlight reaching the center, and – most importantly – way more figs! I’m already dreaming of all the fig jam I’m going to make. If you have a fig tree in a pot, I definitely recommend giving pruning a try.
