New Trees!

I love figs!  Everyone in my family loves figs!  As matter of fact, we love them so much that our poor trees cannot make enough!  So, Michael and I decided that it was high time that we root some new trees!  We have two nice large trees and three smaller ones.  All of these were planted at the same time but for some strange reason, two did marvelously while the other three are tiny.  I do believe that they are even smaller now than when we planted them!  All five trees are planted in the same area, receive the same amount of fertilizer and water and even get the same amount of sunshine.  Why three did not grow is far beyond my understanding. Perhaps I do not talk to them enough!  We even gave them extra helpings of shell dust this summer thinking that the calcium might help..it did not.  They still look puny! So we took matters into our own hands and set down some limbs to root.

The layering process is one of the easiest methods to start new fig trees. A lower limb is slightly scraped to "wound" it.  The limb is then pulled down to the ground and covered with dirt.  Something heavy (a brick in this case) is laid on top of the mound of dirt.  All that is left is to wait. Patience is a virtue that comes in really handy when rooting.  If weather conditions are right, the limb should start developing roots within a matter of weeks but it is best to leave it for quite a bit longer.  I plan on leaving this one until early next spring.  Sometime in February, Michael will cut off the limb from the main tree and we will dig out the rooted sprig.  This will be replanted in some desired location and watered most every day for a bit.  The newly formed tree should sprout out to become a welcome addition to the garden.  Every time we notice another limb of the large trees dangling down to the ground, the procedure will commence again.  Soon, we will have a yard full of fig trees and hopefully produce enough figs to satisfy everybody's taste for fig jam!

Also in February, we will dig up those three puny fig trees and transplant them to a different location.  Maybe the move will inspire them to grow!  Our peach trees have not been able to supply us with much fruit due to the critters so I am in hopes that we can do better with the figs. The deer, squirrels, raccoons, 'possums and other critters make quick work of the peaches!  The fig trees are closer to the house where Ms. Ez can guard them.  That old dog will definitely have her work cut out for her!  She can chase critters to her heart's content!