Figs Dying Back During Winter Months



Fig with late spring freeze damage on the tips and leaves

Q. I have a backyard orchard in Henderson with 14 fruit
trees planted similar to what I have learned from the Dave Wilson videos and
the UNR orchard. This is my 3rd year and I should be getting a decent amount of
fruit. My problem is the figs. Two years in a row two fig trees have died to
about 3-4 inches up the trunk. Last year I replaced both trees with new Kadota
and Black Mission figs purchased from the nursery in pots. The new trees have
apparently done the same thing. The trees are planted on the NE property line,
so they get full afternoon sun. We had a very mild winter….I don’t really
understand what is going on here.

A. I am not sure what is going on either. If you are in a particularly cold part of the valley you could be getting some winter kill. It is not just the minimum temperature that matters. If low temperatures hit out of season (November or early December or mid February) they can’t handle the low temperatures they could normally handle in December and January.

The important
points in planting figs would be the same as the other fruit trees; add compost
to the backfill at planting time, make sure it is planted the same depth as it
was in the container, stake it the first year, it does not have to be
whitewashed so don’t, keep the rabbits from it as they LIKE figs and will kill
them, water them the same as other fruit trees, mulch them with wood mulch but
keep the mulch away from the trunk 12 inches the first four seasons until
established.

Do not
water directly next to the trunk but at least 12 inches away. Do not fertilize
directly next to the trunk or you can kill them. They can be damaged by very
cold winters, more so than apples or pears. I hope this helps.