Planting In Ground Trees

[newnandawg]

I have planted many types of plants, trees, shrubs and flowers in ground over the years. I have
placed all my in ground fig trees in ground during the spring, generally April and May. I am curious
of those who plant in ground trees, in particular Georgia, North and South Carolina, Virginia,
West Virginia, Tennessee, Maryland and Northern Alabama. When do you plant them in ground?
Why?

[lauralou]

I'm curious about this too.

I planted 4 figs in the ground in June of this year. No special reason to plant them in June. It just took me a while to get planting spots ready, what with rain and my work schedule. They have all done very well with lots of watering during the hot months of summer.

Now the season is changing and I have started digging out a new spot for the last 2 figs that are still in pots. I hope to get them in the ground this coming weekend. At least one of them, anyway. The other has (stagnant stage) figs on it, and I probably shouldn't mess with it at this point.

I'd love to hear how more experienced growers do it.

[Kelby]

What about PA? I plant spring/early summer. Summer I try to avoid due to watering needs. Fall is fine for other plants but I don't believe a fig will establish enough in the fall to be strong enough to winter well.

[newnandawg]

Kelby, of course PA. Just mentioned those states because of similar growing conditions.

[fitzski]

I have to move my inground fig and i'd prefer to do it this fall. I was planning on waiting until it was fully dormat before doing so. Does anyone see a major problem in doing this?

[The Figster]

Moving in fall is a good ideal and here is a trick. There is no doubt that a naturally dormant plant will move best but you can part sever the roots over a period of time and help the process along. Imagine a 6 sided shape around your plant about 12" away from the trunk. Cut the roots of every other side.

So you would cut sides 1,3 and 5 this week. 4 weeks later cut sides 2,4, and 6. A month later trim the roots on the bottom and relocate

[fitzski]

Thanks for the tip, Ian.

[WillsC]

Well i'm in Florida but my preferred planting time is March, just after the frost free date. Have though planted here as late as July 1 with no issues. This year I had 115 new varieties that needed put in ground and due to procrastination and just being busy did not get planted in March, then I got hurt so they had to languish in tree pots. Finally did heal up and put them in bigger pots but they will spend the winter in the greenhouse and be planted next spring.

[The Figster]

I planted 10 in ground trees in late May with the idea of giving them time to establish before winter. They have all grown well so far. I feel next year will see steady growth and a good crop.
I would not plant in ground trees in the Fall in my climate except if I were relocating them from another in ground location.

[Rewton]

Here in Maryland I have always put figs in the ground in April-June, never in the Fall for the reasons Kelby mentioned. I have thought about it though. I think a mature tree would be probably be fine most winters transplanted in the Fall with winter protection. You would want to save back cuttings just in case...

[vanfigs]

I have another question, how big the planting hole does everyone make? I have dug some area of my backyard for growing tomatoes and green beans in past few years. It's very compact with varied size of rocks, up to size of cantaloupe. I am planning to dig a hole now and filled with layers of leaves, coffee grounds and soil. By next March, the hole and soil should be ready for planting my DK tree. I understand bigger hole will benefit the tree but it's a tough work making a big hole from compact soil. Just wondering how big the hole do you guys make?

[F. Bennett]

I planted my first fig tree in early August several years ago. It had no problems and didn't even die back that winter. This was about 5 years ago, before the crazy winters.

[Taverna78]

If you have frost plant month before frost. If you no have frost plant when ever. It will grow😉

[Gr8Figs]

I planted RDB,Smith,and Hunt a couple days ago.
I need another bag of soil for the RDB.
I plan on spreading a couple of large wheelbarrow loads of wood chips for each tree to conserve moisture and keep the weeds at bay.


I prefer to plant fig trees in Spring,but these should do OK as long as I keep them watered until the first frost and colder weather ~60-80 days in Georgia.

RDB

Smith

Hunt

[figgrower]

They look very happy. Nice work!