Re: [gardeners] fig trees
George Shirley (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Fri, 07 Dec 2001 11:42:09 -0600
I've seen many references to keeping fig trees over the winter in cold climates. Mostly they advise
cutting the roots on one side of the tree, digging a trench, wrapping the tree in burlap, laying it
over in the trench and then covering it with soil and a heavy mulch of some sort. Come warm weather
you uncover it all, set it up and it grows again.
Down here in warm Louisiana we just leave them alone. On the rare winters when we get a hard freeze
they will die back to the roots and then sprout again. I also have a Brown Turkey tree. We mulch it
about six inches deep out to the drip line to protect the shallow roots from heat and to conserve
moisture.
George
flylo@txcyber.com wrote:
>
> Once they've gone dormant, it won't hurt to wrap the fig trees if
> they're small enough to do so. I've seen descriptions of them
> planted 'sideways' and encouraged to grow 'on their side' so they're
> easier to pick from and easier to deal with in the winter.
> Here (cen Tx), our figs lose their leaves at about 38*, and the milky
> sap quits flowing. If they need pruning, this is the time to do it.
> Also it's the time to take cuttings if you want more trees. I don't
> protect our trees unless it's warmed up and the tip growth has
> greened up again. If this dies back, it will set the tree back during
> next year's growing season.
> I don't have a clue what kind of figs these are. Celeste maybe?
> They stay green, never turn brown like those I'm used to (Brown
> Turkey). martha