How to Prune Ficus Tree Recommendation

Ficus benjamina, weeping fig, makes a striking large houseplant.

Ficus benjamina or weeping fig trees require little major pruning due to their attractive and lush natural canopy shape. Light pruning can be done, however, every year or every two years to control the shape and spread of the tree. More frequent tidying and removal of dead material can keep your ficus looking tidy and growing healthy. Hand prune ficus trees branch by branch and refrain from shearing the tree as this can tear the tender foliage and result in a large amount of partially cut leaves with browning edges.

Things You'll Need

• Secateurs

Instructions

1. Inspect the tree regularly throughout the year either while watering or on some other consistent basis. Look for cracked or broken branches, signs of disease or dead foliage and branches. Cut away any of these down to healthy wood.

2. Prune ficus trees annually or biennially in the springtime. Place cuts carefully removing small amounts of branch material at a time. Work around the tree evenly, in order to maintain the natural shape and have a roughly symmetrical finished result. Make all branch cuts on a downward facing bias to prevent moisture from sitting atop and rotting the cut wound.

3. Cut away any small bare branches and the leafless, flexible, string-like twigs down to the nearest branch or trunk. Bring down the tree top height, if desired. Proceed to shaping the perimeter of the canopy. Pull each branch from the canopy as you make a cut and look at your progress before proceeding with the next cut.

Tips & Warnings

• Weeping fig can be sensitive to under and over watering, so keep soil moist and be consistent.

• Ficus benjamina can also react negatively to sudden light or temperature changes -- losing all its leaves, though not usually dying -- so make changes very gradually.

References

• University of Minnesota: Ficus
• New Mexico State University: Pruning and braiding ficus branches