Rodent protection in figs stored over winter
Winter protection for in-ground fig trees
Rodent protection of fig plants stored over winter
By: Robin Guy
From the Grapevine December 2022
Potted Figs
These are photos of my fig plants in storage in my attached garage for the winter. About five years ago, I stored them and a rodent family chewed off all of the stems down to the roots, and in some cases dug up the roots. I also lost all of the tags stating which variety was which, as the rodents didn’t care to leave those by the plant for me. I had a huge loss that winter. I tried aluminum foil as a deterrent, and it seems to work. My goal is to save the plant, not the entire tree/bush. I just wrap the base of the plant in aluminum foil and try to cover the soil also so that the rodents don’t girdle or chew the plant, or dig it up. I may cover a tender branch or two, but basically, it is just covering up the soil and base of the plant. I’ve been doing this for about 5 years already with great results. It takes a lot of foil and time, but it is good insurance.
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Winter protection for in-ground fig trees
Fig trees usually grow in zones 7-10, so growing them in colder climates like ours in the Chicago area (zone 5) presents a challenge. The plants will not survive exposure to temperatures less than 15 degrees F for more than several hours, so growers must find a way of protecting them from lower temperatures.
One option is to pull the trees down to the ground. Fortunately, fig trees are very flexible probably because the trunk and branches have a latex core. As a result, the trees can, using some force, be pulled down quite close to the ground. Tie them in place to stakes in the ground, and then cover them with insulating material. Chopped or mulched leaves are an excellent choice for this. In November, pick up leaves from your property or get leaves from another source and bury the tied-down trees 18-24 inches deep in leaf mulch. Cover with a tarp and secure the tarp to the ground with bricks, stones, lengths of pipe, etc. Put some mouse poison blocks in containers near the edges of the covering tarps to deter mice or voles from eating the tree bark during the winter. In Spring, wait until risk of frost is gone (about mid-May) then uncover the trees, and stand them upright. They will quickly leaf out and begin to grow again.
Air Rooting Fig Trees
There are a number of ways to proliferate fig trees, splitting apart a multi-trunk tree, rooting cuttings, layering, and air rooting. Air rooting is easy to do and can be used to cut out unwanted branches while producing new plants.
First, the fig branch can be girdled and a short segment (about 1″ wide) of bark completely removed. This is not necessary, but can speed up the rooting process if used. Then, a rooting ball or pod is filled with potting soil, perlite or vermiculite, and peat moss (1:1:1). The mixture is wetted thoroughly and then the ball is clamped onto the fig branch covering the girdled area. Check the ball every 3 or 4 days and add water as needed. After 6-8 weeks, a substantial mass of roots will be seen within the rooting ball. The stem is then cut just below the rooting ball. the plastic ball is opened up, and removed from the ball of roots. The root mass is then planted deep in a pot with a supporting stick to keep the new plant upright.
With some attention to the need for water, these rooted plants survive very well. Even fig fruits that had already started to form before the rooting began will often mature and ripen by the end of the same season when the air-rooted tree was potted.
