How to Trim an Indian Laurel Fig Tree

The Indian laurel fig (Ficus microcarpa “nitida”) is an evergreen tree native to Malaysia and India. This tree has a moderate and spreading growth pattern that features dense rounded canopies and widths typically a little greater than the tree’s height. Indian laurel fig trees grow best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 and 10. These trees are drought-tolerant and require minimal maintenance once established, apart from a trimming periodically to maintain the tree’s appearance and health.

Pruning shears
Lopping shears
Hand saw

Instructions

- 1
  Get rid of branches on the Indian laurel fig tree that extend beyond the desired canopy or overall shape. Look for lengthy, undeveloped branches to remove, but try to let the tree grow naturally when possible.
- 2
  Trim branches back to the point where they meet other branches at least one-third the size of the removed branch.
- 3
  Raise the crown of the Indian laurel fig tree by removing the lower one-third of the branches.
- 4
  Remove any dead, sickly or frail branches on the Indian laurel fig tree. Make an angled cut back into a healthy part of the branch.
- 5
  Prune off any diseased branches and get rid of them. Sterilize your tools with rubbing alcohol before using them.

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