How to Prune a Ficus
Pruning and shaping a ficus tree is an easy task and good for the tree. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
-
-
1
Put on your gardening gloves so you reduce the possibility of cutting yourself.
-
2
Start at the bottom of the tree, and remove the branches that are growing from the main part(s) of the trunk. If these sprouting branches are allowed to grow, they will sap the energy of the tree.
-
-
3
Once you have trimmed away these small branches, start trimming the outer branches to the shape that you want. You can also reach inside the tree to prune some of the center growth. A ficus tree loves light, so removing some of the inner branches opens the tree up to more sunshine, making it healthier.
-
4
If yours is an indoor tree, from time to time, you can gently prune some of the top branches. Do not, however, give it a massive hair cut. Pruning away more than one-third of the tree can cause it to go into shock, which may open it to disease or kill it.
-
5
Pick up the pruned branches, and put in a garbage bag for safe disposal, or add to your compost pile.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you use your clippers or loppers for anything but pruning your ficus, make sure you sanitize the tools first. It is easy to pass fungi and viruses between plants using contaminated tools.
Prune during the dormant season for best results.
Do not prune more than a third of your tree at one time. Doing so may weaken it, making it suspectible to diseases.
- Photo Credit arboretum.arizona.edu/.../heritage_trees.html
More Like This
Comments
-
Be careful when pruning your Ficus Benjamina, wear protective gloves and long sleeved shirt. I broke out in a terrible rash from my elbows down to the tops of my hands. I am 5 days post pruning and still have a red bumpy intchy rash.
-
Love all the information Happy growing!
