Winterizing Our Fig Tree

My daughter brought us home a fig tree this summer. After planting it began growing beautifully and even provided us with a few figs! We really want to see this little fig tree grow and produce over the next few years so it is necessary for us to protect it over the winter by 'wrapping' it.

Why wrap it?

• It is more of a tropical/subtropical tree and we risk it dying over the winter due to the cold temperatures here 
• It is it's first winter and has not established itself yet

What climates should wrap the tree?

• Anywhere the temperature drops below freezing in the winter

When?

• After it has lost all of it's leaves. If you wrap it too early it can get mold :-(

How to wrap it?

• Prune it back to 3 or 4 good branches
• Wrap the tree with carpet, insulation, burlap, etc.  I am using a natural insulation that comes in deliveries we recieve.
• Using string, wrap it tightly together around and around...I used leftover yarn from crocheting :-)
• Add straw or mulch around the bottom of the tree to protect any roots - we used leaves from around the yard.
• Use plastic and more string to wrap the entire fig tree up - NOTE: we used clear because it is what we had, but professionals recommend using a blue or colored tarp.
• Create a vent in the top of the plastic or tarp to allow heat to escape. You can do this by leaving a few holes around the top of the tarp (not at the top) and then covering the top with a bucket or other container that will not fall off but will also prevent any rain or meltwater from getting inside. We actually used a small bucket left from pool chemicals and taped the handle to the plastic to prevent it from flying away.
• After carefully stuffing the bottom of the plastic with the leaves we also spread out the plastic and put heavy rocks on top to prevent it from blowing away on a gusty day.

In the spring:

• Unwrap it when the temperature no longer drops below freezing.
• Hopefully all will be well! Of course we don't know yet since this is the first winter....so look forward to another post in the spring when we unwrap!

Here are some pictures:

Leafless Fig tree - time to wrap it for the winter!

Cut off lower branches. Leave only a few sturdy ones.

Use string to tightly wrap the tree in insulate material and pile leaves around the base.

Wrap with plastic. Put vent holes in top to vent. Place a bucket over the holes so heat can escape but water can't get it. Push leaves under the plastic and pile a few rocks around ti to keep the plastic in place.

Thanks for visiting!
Stay tuned for an update in the spring when we "unwrap' our fig tree.  And please check out our social media links above!
Sincerely,