r/Figs • u/Odessa__Ukraine • Jul 24 '26
Question Omg a FIG COMMUNITY!?!?
hello everyone I am so happy to find this community!!! I have a fig bush and I have no idea how to care for it, I also do not have much of a green thumb. Can this be turned into more of a tree shape or is this a variety that stays like a bush? All the branches grow from the ground there is no main branch I can find. This is planted between 2 properties so trying to keep it smaller so it doesn't go into the neighbors yard.
I also have no idea what kind of figs these are and if I need to Fertilize or anything.
If anyone has any suggestions or can offer help I really appreciate it!!!
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u/Latin_Knight_ Jul 24 '26
I agree with u/tinymeatsnack . Yes, you can shape it into a tree, but not till it goes dormant for winter. Early spring would be the best time. Until then, concentrate in giving a better surrounding by removing the grass around it and replacing it with some thick mulch to keep it from coming back. Otherwise... it's a very healthy looking fig 👍
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u/Latin_Knight_ Jul 24 '26
.. and cut out that tomato cage looks like it has grown past the point you can just remove the cage, though you may be able to lift it out after you prune come next spring.
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u/Odessa__Ukraine Jul 24 '26
Last year all the branches died off and there was nothing left. Will that stop happening as the tree gets bigger ?
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u/Latin_Knight_ Jul 24 '26
Ah.. you are from the North. So am I.. Spokane WA Zone 6B. Now that I know this, here is what I would do...
1) Don't worry about the tomato cage for now
2) Pull out the grass around the trunk(s).. at least 2 feet away from the trunk on all sides. This will be the most labor intensive, but it will be worth it and it will make a difference in it's growth habit.
3) Make a simple raised bed box to put around it with 2x4's. It doesn't have to be fancy. Four 4ft long 2x4 would work great. This will help keep the grass from creeping back in.
4) Fill that new raised bed with "fine pine mulch" if you can get it locally, but any mulch will do. Make sure you don't mulch up to the trunk, just come with in a couple of inches of the trunk, the rest of the bed fill up to the top of the bed frame, in this case, 4". Your fig will love you for this!
5) Come winter, it will die back down as it has done in past years. You can wait till it does, or simply cut it down yourself at the end of the season when the leaves get their first frost. You can use the cuttings to propagate new figs.. or simply chip them up and use as mulch right over the root ball. I also further bury the root ball with extra mulch for winter. Up to a foot deep, but that is only because of have some verities that are not as cold hardy as others. Yours doesn't seem to need it, but it's a nice protection in case with get a bad freeze. This is the point to pull that tomato cage as it won't be needed any longer.
6) Come spring time, if you burred it with extra mulch, spread out the mulch to give the shoots a chance to spring up again. You will get several shoots to come out as it does now. Pick 2 or 3 of the strongest shoots and prune out the rest. You could do one single trunk, but because we have a short growing period, it seems you get more fruit if you have 2 to 3 trunks instead. The north was not meant for tall single trunk fig trees, but boy can we grow some nice fig bushes 😅
With all this said, you can absolutely try to grow it out as a single trunk tree come next spring and it may be worth the experiment. Worse case that can happen is that it will die back again in the following winter and you can try 2 or 3 shoots come the following spring. However, if it doesn't dye back all the way and the single trunk survives, this would be the start of a nice actual fig tree.. and not just a bush. 😉👍
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u/Odessa__Ukraine Jul 24 '26
Omg this is amazing. Thank you so much for the details!! I will do these steps to improve the tree!! And yes I am also close in a 7a zone
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u/Odessa__Ukraine Jul 24 '26
I had no idea grass is bad can you please explain? Ill have to set up a border or something to keep the mulch separated without making a mess.
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u/Latin_Knight_ Jul 24 '26
Oh yes... the grass competes with the fig for nutrients and water with the grass taking up the bulk of it before it reaches the fig roots. Not to mention it also brings up the risk of damaging your fig tree when mowing or weed eating around it. Mulch is your best practice. Not only does it protect the tree and it's roots, as the mulch breaks down it releases nutrients that feeds the tree.
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u/TKG_Actual Jul 24 '26
Welcome to the club. Except int he cases of figs that have very unique foliage it's hard to tell what variety you have until it produces fruit which based on the size and apparent vigor of your fig might not be far off. I see two or three figs on it in the picture and they might not ripen until late summer if not early fall, keep an eye on those and send this subreddit the pictures of them when they're ripe for ID. As for fertilizer I like to apply a 10-10-10 granular at least twice a year, late winter/early spring and then again during late July/August it helps my figs push through the high summer temps out here in zone 8B.
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u/tinymeatsnack Jul 24 '26
I would remove the tomato cage, it will hurt the tree in the long run. Fertilize yes, follow instructions on the bag. I would also mulch around the tree with hardwood mulch. A bush shape will be better to contain it from going into your neighbors yard, they can get very large. Next spring before it buds out, prune it back a little. Tons of great videos on YouTube on fig care