Poll - Prune this Tree

[bushdoctor82]

My Ciccio Nero is finally starting to show life and is starting to reach above the irises. I have a few dry days coming up and will be pruning (depending on poll results) and transplanting the iris on the left of the tree. Will be pruning on Friday. I’ll adhere to the results.

 

[GoodFriendMike]

I went with prune the left. But you could let it grow and marcot it later.

 

[bushdoctor82]

I went with prune the left. But you could let it grow and marcot it later.

Your vote isn’t showing for some reason? No airlayers to be taken.

 

[GoodFriendMike]

Your vote isn’t showing for some reason? No airlayers to be taken.

I did not hit cast vote. Should show now.

 

[Figgerlickinggood]

I went with prune and allow the branch on the right because it’s bigger and more healthy than the other.

 

[Figgerlickinggood]

@Figless I was happy to see your thumbs up to my poll choice. Shows me I’m leaning correctly from all the teachings I’ve been given over the last 5 years when I joined the forum. Thank you.

 

[GoodFriendMike]

I went with prune and allow the branch on the right because it’s bigger and more healthy than the other.

I think you did the same thing as me.
Forgot to hit the cast vote button.

 

[t_corey89]

I’m in the let her ride group. See what she does this year and make adjustments as necessary next year.

 

[Figless]

No pruning for another couple of weeks then, and only then prune the left. I am concerned that if the large branch on the right has a sudden die off we will have pruned all our other options off. Give it another two weeks before we do that

 

[superdave336]

I think I’d let it go and see at the end of season how it looked and then decide. That would also give you cuttings as insurance.

 

[Figgerlickinggood]

I think you did the same thing as me.
Forgot to hit the cast vote button.

It’s hard to notice it where it was put.

 

[bushdoctor82]

No pruning for another couple of weeks then, and only then prune the left. I am concerned that if the large branch on the left has a sudden die off we will have pruned all our other options off. Give it another two weeks before we do that

Pruning will be done on Friday, next Spring or if “other” wins the race.

 

[RandyK]

I would prune it and leave the one on the right. Of course, that is assuming you want tree form. It would also be perfectly acceptable to have it go multiple trunk or bush form, in which case you would not prune at all.

I'm curious...why take out the iris and risk disturbing the roots? I'm not saying you shouldn't do that, just curious.

 

[bushdoctor82]

I would prune it and leave the one on the right. Of course, that is assuming you want tree form. It would also be perfectly acceptable to have it go multiple trunk or bush form, in which case you would not prune at all.

I'm curious...why take out the iris and risk disturbing the roots? I'm not saying you shouldn't do that, just curious.

Just to create a larger circle around the fig tree. Shouldn’t be an issue disturbing fig roots - irises are shallow rooted and remove easily.

 

[TorontoJoe]

This was a tough one. I ended up voting to prune the left but that was a difficult choice given it has a fig on it. But in the interest of tree development, it seemed to make more sense to keep the one on the right as it seems to have more vigor.

 

[TorontoJoe]

How about this one?

 

[grasshopper]

Was it top killed? How old is the tree? Which variety is this?

If it were top killed at that size, I would try bush form instead. And mound up around the base to let the branches root down to improve the multiple branches survival next season.

Or I can cut off the left and let the right side grow but use a different protection plan this winter.

I would definitely remove some iris to improve circulation near the base.

 

[ktrain]

How about this one?

View attachment 8493

Prune it.

 

[bushdoctor82]

Was it top killed? How old is the tree? Which variety is this?

If it were top killed at that size, I would try bush form instead. And mound up around the base to let the branches root down to improve the multiple branches survival next season.

Or I can cut off the left and let the right side grow but use a different protection plan this winter.

I would definitely remove some iris to improve circulation near the base.

The variety is Ciccio Nero. It was around 5’ tall and was killed back to current state over Winter. It’s in its third growing season and second season inground.

I typically allow my “tree form” fig trees to grow back as multi stem trees once the Winter kills below the scaffolds. This one I’m unsure of and will leave it to the forum to decide.

 

[TorontoJoe]

The variety is Ciccio Nero. It was around 5’ tall and was killed back to current state over Winter. It’s in its third growing season and second season inground.

I typically allow my “tree form” fig trees to grow back as multi stem trees once the Winter kills below the scaffolds. This one I’m unsure of and will leave it to the forum to decide.

Ciccio is a tough fig... just like it's papa, Pino's father who brought it to North America many years ago. I was very happy to connect with Pino recently. He's scaled back a bit as many do... but he's still growing lots of figs at his orchard in the Niagara region.

Thanks for helping keep this great figs a champ in the north east.