Due to the dense branching and thick foliage of fig trees, winter pruning differs from that of other fruit trees. The author has established a guiding principle for winter pruning: "Know the variety, manage young growth, adjust main branches, and balance fruiting." Here's a detailed breakdown:
1. When pruning, consider the maturity of the variety. Some fig varieties produce larger, earlier-maturing fruits on new shoots from the top buds. These should generally not be shortened, as doing so may reduce fruit size and quality. For other varieties, it's not necessary to specifically preserve all shoots, since most of the branches—except for 1–2 at the base—rarely bear fruit.
Some varieties can develop multiple vigorous new shoots after extension. In such cases, select 1–2 well-placed, strong shoots and remove the rest. For weaker varieties, avoid removing too many shoots. Instead, perform a light cut to encourage new growth lower down, which helps prevent the fruiting sites from moving too quickly up the tree.
2. Prune with the goal of promoting young, healthy growth. During the sap flow period, proper light pruning helps increase the number of branches, expand the canopy, encourage flowering, and promote early fruiting.
3. Adjust the main branches by extending them appropriately. Shorten secondary branches moderately, and if a branch is weak, perform a light cut to stimulate growth. Remove any crossing or parallel branches within the crown. If there are gaps or a lack of branches near the base or wounds, these can be trained into productive branches or used for renewal. Otherwise, they should be removed promptly to maintain tree health and structure.
4. Evaluate and thin out dense, weak, or unproductive branches. Figs often rely on one-year-old branches for fruiting, and as they age, fruiting shifts upward, leading to bare spots at the base. To address this, encourage new growth from latent buds at the base, which helps fill in gaps and rejuvenate the tree. New shoots from these buds can also flower and bear fruit, although the quality may be lower compared to those from stronger branches.
By following these principles, fig trees can maintain a balanced structure, ensure consistent fruit production, and remain healthy over time.
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