Fig trees require adequate water to bear good figs
Like many fruit-bearing trees, fig trees have particular watering needs. These trees do not handle drought well, in large part due to their root system, which, according to Texas A&M University Extension, lies close to the soil's surface. Since the top layers of soil dry out faster than lower layers, this means the tree roots will not receive enough water if this upper layer is allowed to stay dry for long. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Water fig trees indoors or in greenhouses at least twice a week, as suggested by botanical-online.com. Unlike many other kinds of plants and trees, you should also spray down the leaves once a week to once every two weeks. To do this, use a garden hose and water the container until all the soil within it has been saturated.
2. Use a garden hose or a garden hose attached to a sprinkler to water fig trees outdoors. Make sure you water several feet between the trunk and the tips of the branches to get at the roots. During the dry summer months, water these trees at least once every 10 days, as suggested by plantanswers.com, and at least to a depth of 6 to 12 inches. Outdoor figs also benefit from occasional spraying of water if there has been no rainfall.
3. Place a thick layer (a foot or more deep) of straw mulch around the tree to hold in moisture. This mulch layer also helps protect the tree roots during cold weather.
4. Taper the frequency of watering as cold weather develops in the fall. Too much leafy growth at this time will make the tree susceptible to frost damage. In winter, when the tree has gone dormant, water it only occasionally (if there is no snowfall), such as once a month. If you have rain or snowfall during winter months, don't worry about watering outdoor figs.
Tags: garden hose, cold weather, once every, tree roots