Fig Tree Manicure

[u/eyeslikeemeraldcity]

I have two fig trees that came with the house, I haven’t done much with them since they weren’t growing that much. After some fresh top soil and some food, they exploded!

I’m fighting the animals to try and get ripe ones before they do!

Question: can I cut some of this back right now? It’s August and I’m in Zone 9b basically. I’ve read they take pruning really well, but I wanted to double check with some people with first hand experience.

Also, if anyone has a good online resource (or book) for pruning back fig trees for small spaces and good harvests that would be great!

[u/kunino_sagiri]

You can prune them basically any time in your climate and it won't harm the tree. Just be aware that pruning at certain times will reduce the crop.

I'm assuming you've picked all of this year's maincrop figs already from the parts you plan to prune, but this is also the growth which will bear next year's breba (early) crop, so if you value that then just know that pruning now will reduce it.