How to notch a fig tree - Pruning technique to stimulate branch growth
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- You might have heard of the term "notching" before, but you more than likely have not and we don't know why. Notching is a 'pruning' technique that allows you to generate strategically placed branches where you previously had none. This can be used to lower the trunk to hard prune in winter, or it can be used to increase the structure of the tree.
To find out what this notched tree looks like now please see this video - • How to notch a fig tre...
All in all, if you learn how to notch a fig tree or any other tree for that matter, then you would have added a really beneficial and functional technique into your bag of tricks.
Instructions on how to notch a fig tree:
Note: Make sure your tools are clean and disinfected before using this technique as to not spread any disease, bacteria or virus.
1. Identify a dormant bud or node. You do not want a use a bud that is already swelling, green or leafing out.
2. Make a 45 degree angled cut roughly 1cm long/deep that starts 2cm above the node
3. Make sure you cut deep enough to get through ALL of the cambium and into the inner wood
4. Once your 45-degree cut is roughly 1cm long/deep then make a straight cut where your 45-degree cut ends to create the 'notch.
5. Leave the plant as is. No treatments of the notch is required.
Video timeline:
0.00.00 - Video intro
0.00.37 - What is notching
0.55.27 - Overview of how notching works
02:15:00 - Step by step guide on how to notch a fig tree
Thank you so much for not waffling for 5 mins before getting down to the instructions advertised in your video title!!! Refreshing. Will follow you for more info. 🤩
As a farmer, I love farming and I love everyone who helps promote and post videos about farming in general.
On this occasion, I encourage you, my friend, and I thank you for this good initiative and I support you to continue on this path.
greeting from Morocco.
Wow, thank you for those words of inspiration! 👍
Can we do more than one notching at one time? Thanks 🙏
Can you do more than one notch at a time? Or one every few weeks? I have an espalier apple tier that has some bare areas on either side of the main trunk. There’s space fir 2-3 spurring branches on each side. Thanks for any help you can provide.
I think you can. As long as there's a node you can notch as many as you like. Just don't prune it if you can help.
What time of year should you notch?
So this pretty much encourages branch growth without pruning/pinching off the main trunk, right?
Can you notch above more than one node on a branch?
Thanks for explaining the processes behind the tree's reaction to notching. I've watched a bunch of videos and it just came across like random slicing and hoping for the best
Another smart South African. One of the best tutorials on notching. Plain and simple. Thanks!
Straight forward tutorial without the preamble that normally happens.... thank you
Will this process produce branching on Plumaria? Thank you. You have a very informative vid here.
Why have you allowed most of your fig trees to grow like Date palm trees !?
Yes, notching does help in bud growth by stopping the growth of hormone Auxin top to bottom to inhibits the growth of buds to maintain dominance of the top branchers. By notching that growth inhibiting hormone stops growing through the bud and the buds gets a chance to grow most of the time but sometime you may have to refresh the notch if the bud is slow to grow.
Most people cut off the top bud when a new fig plant reaches a desired height where one wants the tree to start branching somewhere between 12 to 18 inches instead of letting it grow straight up and the thinking of notching to create side branches.
What season do you do this in and when in that season - early mid late? And can I do it to peach tree? Thanks.
As others have stated, this was a very good straight to the point video with great explanation as to the process of the tree. But I see that this video is two years old, so I am hoping you will still see my question, which is; can you notch in more than one place? I bought a brown Turkey fig tree last year at the beginning of the summer. I live in Houston and this past winter we got hit again with several days of below freezing temperatures which caused my fig tree to come back without branches. Lots of leaves up and down the trunk and at the base of each leaf a fig grew, but no branches. Do I leave it alone, or would notching be a beneficial treatment, and if so, can it be done more than once? Because this type of fig is known to grow very large, and we don’t have a good spot for it in our yard, we decided on putting it in a very large pot, and it seems to be happy in the pot and with its location. And that it even grew wonderfully large and sweet figs was an unexpected, yet very pleasant surprise. But I grew up with a fig tree in my back yard that was huge, with loads of branches and more figs than we could consume, that this tree is now nothing more than one trunk with loads of leaves growing has me concerned. My apologies for the length of my comment and question(s), my goal was to give as much valuable information for you to hopefully provide me with a well informed answer.
Thank you for posting! I'm trying to get my fiddle leaf fig to branch and your explanation was the most clear!
Update: so I tried this and perhaps I cut in places where the stem was still to "young", because I ended up with some drooping leaves at the top. I ended up having to cut them off😭
Hiya, when can this be done, please?
Nice video tree 👍
How many notches should one make at one time on a single plant? I just notched my morning a tree in multiples places.
It depends on the size of your plant. If you have a big tree then you can do a lot. If you have a small 1-2 year single stem plant then I would not do more than 2 and on opposite sides of the trunk. Just remember you are diverting energy to the wound which stimulates growth plus you have the main top of the tree to support so you need to maintain a healthy balance of growth to restoring damaged tissue 👍
@@TheRustyFig
Thanks for your quick response. After one week, I noticed new growth at all the notches. I'm hoping and praying that all goes well. I'll give an update. Thanks, again.
@@TheRustyFig
Actually I notched two moringa trees. The one growing in a pot, I did 4 notches. The one in the ground, I did about 6-7 notches. I applied fresh aloe to the notches of the potted tree. Within 7 days I noticed new branches. After 12 days no new growth appears on the tree in the ground. So I applied fresh aloe to the notches and will wait and see what happens.
@@TheRustyFig I definitely did too many notches, the top of my tree is now shriveled up 😭😭
I tried it and it worked great. I now have three more scaffolding branches to choose from.
When should you do it?
Hello! Watching..
I have the question.With the fig tree too high like your fig .Can we air layer on top and notching at domant bud to create new grow.Thanks
Love
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Nice video tree
Thanks for explaining notching so well.. about to try this as well..
Hi Craig, This video was very helpful to me. I am using this on my tree here in San Jose, CA Thank you so much!
thank you
What a nice informative video for a very useful technique thankyouuuu
how to do this with a much thicker trunk? Shenna Ripper Gold
I’m not understanding how to ID a node. Is a node where a branch used to be that was pruned? Can you show and tell how to find a node?
Thanks.
Anywhere you find a bud, twig/branch, or leaf is a node. Nodes are where they originate.
Just subscribed! Number 666!
You learn something new every day :) Great vid
I was given a small branch from a fig tree and it is now growing beautifully in the garden. Its about 8 feet high with 4 branches...
I'm wondering if there's a particular method of removing the branch to grow another tree???
Look into grafting; it looks pretty simple and I like the idea of multiple fruit on one root stock...it saves space.
💚
Method starts at 3:16
Can notching work on croton variegatum?
Their stems are very thin so you would need to be very careful as to not compromise the branch strength, but yes it could work. However, it shouldn't be necessary because that isn't a variety that tends to get very leggy with long sections with no growth. If you lose leaves lower down you can pinch the main bud which should stimulate new growth lower down.
Ok...awesome...for..you...🙋