Weeping Fig Pruning in Early Autumn: Gardening Photos and Stories
Hello, everyone.
Today I am pruning a Ficus benjamina 'Danielle' that I have been growing for many years. It has swallowed the meter that the power company use to calculate our bill.
On the other side, it provides a good amount of privacy for our front gate and window, so I want to leave some of this growth on while maintaining symmetry where I can. The tree also has an interesting trunk that I worked on when we were both younger.
Here is the Wikipedia article on this kind of tree.
Before Pruning
The power meter is nearly completely obscured, and the person who comes to read it often has trouble finding it. Here is the main problem that needs fixing.
Looking in the gate, you can see the tree's branches making it difficult to walk down the path. Also visible is the terracotta-coloured plastic pot that it has been in for over a decade. It has shot a strong and thick tap root down into the pebbles, though, and this is what gives it strength and size.
After Pruning
Two cuts to the top of the tree are visible in this image. Observe how I have tried to make the cut just above a branch in the tree, so that new growth remains at the tip of each part even after cutting.
Now the meter is much more visible. A little growth was left on this side because I harshly cut it back and didn't want to leave the tree completely lopsided.
Some privacy is still offered by the tree, but walking down the path is much simplified now. The visual line of the tree is not too badly disturbed.
Again, some privacy remains. Also opening and closing the window is much more possible now. More growth was left behind on this side of the tree, but a relatively similar amount was removed. Shamefully, you can see a missed brown leaf that I have now removed.
The forked trunk of the tree, which was twisted back into itself over time when it was young. The stake that used to hold it up.
The pile of branches removed and destined for the compost. Stella the cat taking an interest in activities.
That's all for today. Upcoming gardening posts will include a clinging-to-a-rock bonsai planting in progress and further updates on fruiting plants in my suburban garden now that I have returned to it.
Lovely post. I need an expert to come prune my fruit trees!!
Thank you. Most of the information you want can be found online or in books. Also, you can always choose a tree that is not very valuable to you and experiment on it :)