What Happens If You Don’t Prune a Fig Tree?
Updated: Jan 9
Q: Do Fig Trees Have to Be Pruned?
A: Contrary to popular belief, pruning is not a requirement for fig trees to remain productive. Some growers fear that their trees will grow into a large, bushy tree with spindly branches and fewer fruits. That's due to a lack of sunlight, poor site selection, and soil health.
Related: Revive an Unhealthy Fig Tree
Most growers aren't aware that excessive pruning of any fruit tree, especially during winter, can disrupt its growth and fruiting cycle. The following spring, over-pruned fig trees may grow vigorously but fail to produce fruit.
You might be thinking, what about trees that are old and losing vigor, and production, or are too tall?
In this article, I will explain how to prune a fig tree to keep it at a manageable size while ensuring it remains productive, vigorous, healthy, and thriving.
If you want to see more fig-related content like this, feel free to subscribe to the monthly Fig Boss newsletter at the top of the page.
Related: Fig Tree, NO FRUIT - Grow Figs Not Leaves | The 4 Reasons Why Your Fig Tree IS NOT Fruiting
Q: Can You Keep a Fig Tree Small?
Left unchecked and in warmer growing zones (7A or higher), fig trees grow taller and wider every year. Over time, this can make the tree difficult to manage and harvest from. Without pruning, a fig tree can easily grow to 20 feet or more, potentially reaching the height of a house. While some people may enjoy having a towering fig tree—perhaps even harvesting figs from a second-story window—most backyard growers prefer a more manageable tree, around 6–10 feet tall.
As an educator of fig trees, I get this question more than almost all others. Can I keep my fig tree small? A: My answer is, yes, you can. A 6x6 to 12x12 size is easily achievable long-term. Even without a dwarf fig tree.
Why Smaller Trees Are Better
Large trees often require ladders for pruning and harvesting.
Smaller trees are easier to care for, allowing for easier fruit harvesting, and effective netting to protect against birds and critters.
Overgrown fig trees can block walkways and encroach on structures
Additionally, excessive fruit on large trees can lead to unharvested figs, attracting birds, insects, and other animals, which can disrupt the balance of your yard and harm the quality of reachable fruits.
Related: Fig Tree Size Matters: The Beauty of Dwarf Fig Trees & Taming the Growth of any Fig Tree
How to Prune Fig Trees - Top Tips
While pruning isn’t necessary for productivity, it can be beneficial for tree health and size management. Here’s how to prune effectively:
Heading vs. Thinning Cuts: Instead of heading branches back 33%, 50%, or up to 90%, remove 100% or entire branches flush at their lowest point. These are called thinning cuts, which prevent the growth of water shoots—vigorous, non-fruiting branches.
Preserve Fruiting Buds: The top third of a fig tree’s new growth contains buds with a better hormonal balance for fruiting. Lower buds tend to be more vegetative, leading to excessive growth without fruit.
Rejuvenation Pruning: For older, diseased, or poorly performing trees, remove old wood to stimulate healthy new growth. Heading cuts in old, lacking in vigor or production trees is instead the right approach.
How to Prune a Fig Tree That’s Too Tall
If your fig tree has grown too tall, here’s how to bring it back to a manageable size:
Use a Saw for Major Cuts: Instead of relying on pruning shears to trim smaller sections, use a saw to make significant cuts. This method reduces the tree’s height more effectively and prevents excessive, unnecessary pruning. For a tree that has grown very tall, trace the tallest branches down to the base or as low as possible and make a clean cut there.
Recycling Process: Focus on removing a single trunk (for bush-form trees) or scaffold branch (for tree-form structures) each year. A new scaffold or trunk will grow in its place. This recycling process helps maintain a consistent height and size.
Preserve Productive Branches: When reducing the height of your fig tree, prioritize keeping branches with good structure and healthy lower growth. This approach ensures the tree remains productive while reducing its overall size.
Pruning for Tree Health
As we discussed earlier, heading branches and heavier pruning can help stimulate healthy new growth, which may be necessary at the expense of fruit production.
It's also important to prune away any damaged, diseased, or dead wood. Here are two examples:
Scale and Borers: These pests often hide in dead or damaged wood. Removing such wood helps prevent infestations that can harm or kill your tree.
Fig Mosaic Virus: If your tree shows signs of this virus, mark infected branches during the growing season. Head those branches back 50-90% during dormancy to lessen the virus’ severity.
When to Prune Fig Trees
Prune During Dormancy: The best time to prune a fig tree is during its dormant period—fall, winter, or early spring after the leaves have dropped and the tree’s sap has returned to the roots. Dormant pruning minimizes sap loss and stress on the tree, helping it recover quickly.
Summer pruning is also possible, however, fig trees form their fruits as they grow. It’s best to prune them after they have finished fruiting and when the wood is hardened.
Want to know more about growing and caring for fig trees? Read the fig tree timeline so you can know exactly what to do at any point during your season.
