Identification

• With gnarled trunks and twisted branches, fig trees are a romantic, eye-catching tree in winter and in summer have a tropical allure. Their leaves are enormous, up to one foot in length, and create deep shade below the tree sufficient to kill most growth.
  
  

Pruning

• Fig tree productivity does not depend on pruning---nor should you prune to reduce shade or tree size. Because the fruit emerges from the previous year's growth, heavy winter pruning diminishes the following year's crop.
  
  

Considerations

• Although fig trees require full sun to produce maximum fruit, they also require deep waterings every week or two and heavy mulching. Fig tree roots spread wide in their search for water, extending far beyond the tree canopy.