Can I prune a fig tree in October?

Asked by: Sam Dolliole

Wait until the dormant season, late winter or early spring before starting to prune. This will limit the amount of sap that the tree bleeds and so will reduce the damage that the pruning might cause.

How do you prune a fig tree in autumn?

Really all you need to do is tip prune them just take the very tip of each branch off in the late winter. That will create some additional branching that following spring.

When can you prune a fig tree?

Tips on how to prune fig trees:



Plant the fig tree during dormancy, from November to March. Prune in April, cutting back all branches by about a third. The concept is to encourage the tree to channel energy into root development. In June, prune new growth back to 5-leaf length.

Do fig trees need to be pruned in the fall?

Pruning your fig tree in its first year is important, but plan to keep pruning it next year and the year after that. Pruning your fig tree during dormancy will lead to a more productive growing season and fresh fruit starting in early summer.

How hard can you prune a fig tree?

You can also cut long, fruitlet-less branches back very hard (to about 2-3”). Not too many though; you do not want to kill the poor tree. It is a good idea to deal with suckers at the same time. Try to tear them off the root from which they have grown rather than cut them.

How do you winterize a fig tree?

Place containers in an insulated unheated preferably dark room, garage or cool basement. If the space is not dark, you can cover the figs. If you’re lucky enough to have an environmentally controlled greenhouse, you may not need to cover them. Water them monthly until just moist so the roots do not dry out completely.

Do figs fruit on new or old wood?

1 year old wood

Figs produce fruit on 1 year old wood and the upcoming season’s growth. They require little specialized pruning; head back to keep tree to manageable size and thin to keep aerated.

Should I remove last years figs?

If you leave your tree unpruned and it’s growing in soil, you’ll soon find all your figs are out of reach, so you need to prune the tree to keep it at a manageable size. This must be done by February; any later, and the sap will start to rise and it will be a messy job.

Where do you prune a fig tree?

Just above the collar. So there's kind of a more plumpness. Right next to the trunk here I try to make it so that it's just as it starts to taper. In into the branch itself.

How long will a fig tree live?

200 years

Growing period



The fruiting cycle is 120-150 days. Some varieties produce one crop per year, others two. Trees have been known to live as long as 200 years.

How do I get my fig tree to produce more fruit?

Pruning your trees in the winter, while they’re dormant, greatly increase the amount of fruit they will yield. With a clean and sterile pair of loppers or hand pruners, remove any dead or broken branches. Afterwards, clear a few branches away from the center of the tree.

Why didn’t My fig tree produce fruit this year?

The most common reason for a fig tree not producing fruit is simply its age. Trees, like animals, need to reach a certain maturity before they can produce offspring. Fruit is how a fig tree creates seeds. If the fig tree is not old enough to produce seeds, it will also not produce fruit.