Re: Planting a fig
- To: m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Re: Planting a fig
- From: D*@aol.com
- Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 15:32:24 EST
In a message dated 11/9/98 7:47:18 PM, you wrote:
>Thanks to Cyndi,
>and all who responded warning me of trying to espalier a fig tree. It
>looks so little and innocent as just a rooted cutting sticking there in
>the ground with its five leaves (and five figs)!
>I think to myself, "maybe I'll wait a year or two before taking it
>out". I'm not thinking of just ignoring it for 10 years, while it
>starts to take over the world. There is a practice called "garden
>bonsai" which maintains that one can dwarf a tree just by repeated
>pruning to reduce the leaf structure, even though that tree is in the
>ground and never root pruned. Have any of you ever heard of it?
>Practiced it?
>Sean O. spoke of it once when he said redwood trees could be turned into
>hedges and kept relative low with repeated pruning. Don't you think this
>could also be done with a fig? (She said hopefully)
>Or am I just a garden fool!
>Jan
>--
Figs can and have for centuries been espaliered with or without root pruning.
You must be vigilant and dedicated, and if worse came to worse many varieties
can be pruned nearly to the ground (asssuming non-grafted) in spring and then
the new shoots trained over.
Don't be afraid to try anything...
Deborah Lindsay
