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The Daily Insight

When should you cover your fig tree?

Author

Emily Sparks

Published May 24, 2026

When should you cover your fig tree?

Although some planting tricks (such as planting your fig against a south-facing wall) can help figs survive most winters without extra care, wrapping them in layers of burlap and fallen leaves in late autumn or early winter will keep them from dying back too severely during a cold winter.

Do fig trees need frost protection?

Protect figs in winter by covering the bare branches with a few layers of horticultural fleece, or by packing fan-trained branches with straw or bracken. If possible move container-grown figs to a frost free place such as cool garage or unheated greenhouse, otherwise position in a sheltered spot.

How do you overwinter a potted fig tree?

The tree will want to go into dormancy and will look unhealthy all winter long. Once all of the leaves have fallen off the fig tree, place the tree in a cool, dry place. Often, people will place the tree in an attached garage, a basement or even closets indoors. Water your dormant fig tree once a month.

How do you care for an outdoor fig tree?

Keep the tree in full sun in the summer. Be sure to add a high-nitrogen fertilizer every 4 weeks in the spring and summer and water the tree moderately. In the winter, move the tree indoors and keep the soil moist. For outdoor fig trees, plant the tree in the spring or early fall in full sun.

Can I keep my fig tree small?

If you could select only one fruit tree for your Southern California yard, the fig tree would be an ideal choice for several reasons: It produces delectable fruit, it is simple to grow, with its large leaves and gnarled branches, it is attractive in most landscapes and it can be pruned radically to accommodate small …

When is the best time to plant a fig tree?

Planting Fig Trees Figs can be planted outdoors in Zone 8 and warmer. In zones where winter temperatures get colder than 10°F (-12°C) for periods of time, figs are best grown in containers and kept inside for the winter. Plant fig trees outdoors in the early spring or late fall, when the tree is dormant.

When to remove a fig tree for winter?

After this, wrap the whole winterized fig tree in plastic insulation or bubble wrap. The final step in winterizing a fig tree is to place a plastic bucket on top of the wrapped column. Remove the fig tree winter protection in the early spring when temperatures at night consistently stay above 20 degrees F. (-6 degrees C.).

How long does it take for a fig tree to produce fruit?

A. Fig trees planted in the ground may take eight to 10 years after planting before they begin fruit production. This is because young trees utilize their resources to establish a strong, healthy root system before fruiting. Fig trees planted in containers are quicker to establish and you can see fruit within five years of planting.

When does a Chicago Hardy fig tree produce fruit?

Chicago Hardy Fig – this tree grows in Zones 5 to 10, and produces medium purple fruit that matures in July through first frost. Bears fruit in 1 to 2 years. Can produce two harvests per year. For more information, check out the Chicago Hardy Fig on the Stark Brothers website.

How long does it take for a fig tree to grow?

Fig trees planted in the ground may take eight to 10 years after planting before they begin fruit production. This is because young trees utilize their resources to establish a strong, healthy root system before fruiting.

Can a fig tree be grown outside in the winter?

In colder climate areas with more severe winters, hardy cultivars can be grown outdoors if provided with proper protection. In climates below Zone 8, it’s not advised to keep plants outside year-round, but to grow them in containers that can be brought indoors during the winter.

Do you need to prune a fig tree every year?

Many plants require heavy pruning each year to produce a quality harvest the next. Figs aren’t this type of plant. Instead, they only need light pruning. If you’ll remove the dead, damaged, or diseased portions of the tree each winter, they’ll continue to grow and produce.

When to unwrap a fig tree in the spring?

Keep an eye on the temperature later in winter and earliest spring. You don’t want to keep the fig tree wrapping for winter on when it starts to warm up. When you unwrap the fig in the spring, there may be some brown tips, but these can be pruned with no damage to the tree. Did you find this helpful? Share it with your friends!