How to Grow Italian Honey Figs

Planting

• 1

  Dig a hole 2 to 3 inches deeper than the tree's container and two to three times as wide. Place the dirt that you remove from the hole on an old sheet to make cleanup easier.

• 2

  Carefully remove the tree from the container and set the tree in the center of the hole.

• 3

  Fill in around the roots with soil from the sheet. Press down firmly with your hands as you fill the hole.

• 4

  Water deeply to saturate the soil around the roots.

• 5

  Apply 2 to 4 inches of organic mulch around the base of the tree to conserve moisture.

Maintenance

• 6

  Water often enough to keep the soil moist. In dry climates, the tree may need deep watering every week or two. In moist climates, provide an inch of water per week. Drooping leaves indicate that the tree needs water.

• 7

  Fertilize with a half-pound of 10-10-10 fertilizer in spring if the tree has little new growth. When it has plenty of new shoots, it doesn't need fertilization. Too much fertilizer causes excess growth with very little fruit.

• 8

  Protect the tree from freeze damage. When it is fully dormant, it can withstand temperatures as low as 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Before the tree enters dormancy, it may suffer damage when temperatures drop below 30 degrees. Mound dry straw or leaves around the trunk of the tree, and when possible, cover the canopy with blankets.

• 9

  Prune fig trees while they are young to create an open canopy. Remove branches with a small pruning saw or long-handled pruners. Thin the canopy so that the branches don't shade each other. Once the shape of the canopy is established, the tree no longer needs pruning.