I have a bunch of trees that were started as cuttings. Most of them grew from the sides outward. I am not sure how to straighten them to look like real trees. I have not seen a video on this subject. Do I just cut the root ball and pick a main trunk and bury the trunk halfway to the way I want it? I think the majority of the time I have been gardening, I have read not to bury a tree's trunk too deep or you will suffocate the roots. Does this not apply to fig trees?
Straightening Trees
- Thread starter LadyGT
- Start date
9ah-figlet
Well-known member
I bury trees deeper when I uppot all the time (especially when the trunk that formed from the cutting is ugly). I haven’t had any problems with this approach.
If the trunk isn’t straight (90 degrees from soil level), you can position the trunk so that it is straight (and the root ball would be at an angle) when you uppot.
I’m not quite sure what you mean by cutting the root ball so hopefully someone else can answer.
If the trunk isn’t straight (90 degrees from soil level), you can position the trunk so that it is straight (and the root ball would be at an angle) when you uppot.
I’m not quite sure what you mean by cutting the root ball so hopefully someone else can answer.
ktrain
Moderator
Well hello Denise, very glad to see you here. 
I'm trying to picture the trees by your description, but I'm not 100%.
Would it be possible to see some pics?
Fig trees can be buried deeper though, they will just root from any buried nodes.
I agree with you Nina, and it is good to see you here..thanks for popping in
I'm trying to picture the trees by your description, but I'm not 100%.
Would it be possible to see some pics?
Fig trees can be buried deeper though, they will just root from any buried nodes.
9ah-figlet said:
I agree with you Nina, and it is good to see you here..thanks for popping in
Figless
Well-known member
@LadyGT @9ah-figlet I have never employed the bury the trunk deeper method. 
sounds very interesting especially if you're going to grow the Fig Tree in the ground. For me it would be very hard to plant The Cutting deep enough to straighten a potted fig that way. I start using bamboo stakes to train them to 90°. I do this right away, training them for the start. If you look at them you hardly notice that they're trained from a side branch out of a cutting. Still wondering if I get a chance I want to try this burying The Cutting method.
sounds very interesting especially if you're going to grow the Fig Tree in the ground. For me it would be very hard to plant The Cutting deep enough to straighten a potted fig that way. I start using bamboo stakes to train them to 90°. I do this right away, training them for the start. If you look at them you hardly notice that they're trained from a side branch out of a cutting. Still wondering if I get a chance I want to try this burying The Cutting method.
GoodFriendMike
Moderator
As @Figless said I always use stakes to straighten me trees but also as @9ah-figlet said.
When I up pot I turn my tree to point up.
When I up pot I turn my tree to point up.
Figgerlickinggood
Well-known member
I remember Lou Monti say “fig trees liked high ground”. Would that indicate not to bury them deep?Well hello Denise, very glad to see you here.
I'm trying to picture the trees by your description, but I'm not 100%.
Would it be possible to see some pics?
Fig trees can be buried deeper though, they will just root from any buried nodes.
I agree with you Nina, and it is good to see you here..thanks for popping in
BNaula1
Active member
They’re able to grow roots all along their trunk/bark, just like tomato’s
so if you plant them deep as young established cuttings they’ll develop bigger & stronger root systems.
ktrain
Moderator
I believe you can bury them deeper than the root ball, but if putting them in ground I would make a small mound so they are slightly above ground level.
Figsee
Well-known member
I think this in reference to drainage not planting depth if I remember correctly. High ground meaning areas that don’t hold moisture.
Fig Gazer
Well-known member
I am a single standard straight up fig tree grower :SO normaly set the tree straight up on first up-pot , as deep as needed to hide the non-straight joint ,if not enough room use a bigger pot ! FIGS DO NOT CARE HOW DEEP YOU BURRY THEM .ONLY REASON TO PLANT ABOVE SOIL SURFACE IS IN NON DRAINING SWAMP .
ktrain
Moderator
I agree, here we have very heavy clay...so they benefit from mounding.
Figless
Well-known member
@LadyGT there should not be any reason you could not bury a fig tree 8 inches or more deeper. You will not suffocate The Roots. Unless you over water or the soil has no aeration, or drainage. The reason people recommend that you keep a tree at its same level is due to it being grafted on a different root stock. Those are the trees you should not bury deeper. You will always want the graft to be above the soil line. If you bury the graft, this will promote rootstock suckers coming up competing with the grafted fruit tree. You want the rootstock to remain the rootstock, and the grafted fruit tree to remain the fruit tree not competing with its roots.
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Same here, and I do the same when I put a tree in a larger pot.
TorontoJoe
Administrator
I also turn the small tree and choose my favourite branch to be my new leader…. However, I’m a bit greedy so if there are other branches I often bend them up and put of the pot to make a new layer. Who doesn’t want another free tree