Here is the Hardy Chicago fig tree that I pruned in March, as of today.
Here is how it looked just after pruning, 15 March 22.
I tipped the most vigorous new shoots, as I usually do, to promote formation of fig buds. Given the severity of the pruning, it may not bear this year. Or it might.
(The house has been repaired and painted recently, but it's the same tree).
Your home and yard are looking great, Daniel. All that since March!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's been quite a project, with some delays due to pandemic etc. With older houses, one thing leads to another, but this place is solidly built with quality materials and construction, and deserves the TLC.
ReplyDeleteAs for the fig tree, I think it shows they can be like the old Timex ads, take a licking and keep on ticking LOL. That height is also much more manageable, no ladders needed.
We can't get contractors to return a phone call in Sequim; roofers, landscapers, yard maintenance. Roofers thumb their noses at any thing less than a complete tear off. Landscapers want to do rock walls, not weed, lay fabric and bark. Yard maintenance guys want small lawns in town, not 2-1/2 acre fields that need mowed once a month. Only plumbing, electrical, HVAC and well maintenance guys are responsive, we do everything else ourselves.
ReplyDeleteAbout your fig tree, I once pruned an apple tree about like you did and it died of shock. My fig, a Laturulla, is on a hillside out in the open. It does well enough considering the constant breeze from Sequim Bay or flowing down from the NE Olympics and the cool temps. It's still small enough I may dig it up and relocate it where there's some shelter for it. You've convinced me they're invincible. ;^)
(For some reason the system wont let me respond with my account. No problem, this is Daniel).
ReplyDeleteCornDawg, here are two posts regarding moving large fig trees.
https://growinggreener.blogspot.com/2012/12/moving-10-year-old-brunswick-fig-tree.html
https://growinggreener.blogspot.com/2017/12/moving-established-fig-tree-delayed.html
Both trees were thick-trunk, heavy rooted trees, ten to about 15 years old. I tried to dig under them as best I could. It's good I did it then - I can't do such a massive tree relocation now. I moved both during dormancy, in December. Along with their roots, I think they were at least 100 pounds each, maybe more, The outcomes: Both survived. In both cases, much if the top gradually died over two or three years, leaving one or two of the original branches, I let them grow new shoots from the ground, which have pretty much taken over. So they are now multi-trunk trees. Both are bearing and have been for a while, although both of those are kind of shy-bearing anyway.
It it's a much smaller tree, I don't see much problem. I would move it while dormant. It might be set back a year to recover.
I hear you about contractors. It's as bad in Vancouver and Battle Ground,
Edit: The second tree was moved in late November. It did fine. It was heading into dormancy at the time.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info and links, Daniel. My fig isn't nearly as large - perhaps a 2" diameter trunk and chest high? I've given up on the "Back to Eden" garden - only because I choose poorly in citing it on a hillside atop a mostly clay plot. It remains spongy and wet until late June and the fruit trees planted around it struggle. Two have drowned in the runoff from my neighbor's property, uphill. I should have picked up on clues when I dug and they filled with water and didn't drain for weeks. It's mind boggling how much water migrates through the sod/mulch on a hillside. Mostly we're simplifying things as we've bought a 2nd small home in Paxton to be near family, esp. mom. One of days I am determined to get to Quincy for a family history field trip.
ReplyDelete