How Much Water Does Fig Tree Need

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The wide-spreading roots of the common fig tree (Ficus carica) grow close to the soil surface. Because the roots practise not grow downward to seek water, the tree suffers when the top of its soil is dry. Pay attending to signs of fig tree stress, especially in hot, dry weather, and water the tree properly. Mutual fig is hardy in U.Due south. Department of Agriculture constitute hardiness zones 8 through 10.

Signs of Water Stress

A common fig tree stressed by the lack of water often drops its fruits prematurely. Spotter for yellowing and falling leaves, which are signs that the tree is non getting enough water.

Water your common fig tree as soon as yous come across its signs of stress. If its leaves wilt slightly in the afternoon, then water the tree.

General Water Requirements

Although the watering needs of a fig tree depend largely on the soil and the weather condition, a general dominion is that a fig tree needs i to 1 1/2 inches of water each week, either from irrigation or pelting.

Keep the soil around your fig tree moist but not soaked. Exam the soil moisture by excavation downwardly at least 2 inches. Overwatering forces oxygen from soil that doesn't drain well and tin can injure or impale a fig tree.

A fig tree growing in a lawn may wilt from summer heat while the surrounding grass is unaffected. In hot, dry summer weather, sprinkle the footing around a mature fig tree for 45 minutes once each week.

A mature fig that is totally dormant tin withstand cooler temperatures than a fig growing chop-chop when the first frost hits. Encourage dormancy and help your tree prepare for cold winter weather past reducing watering at the cease of the growing season, which is in belatedly summer or early autumn in much of the Us.

Water for a Young Tree

Water stress can stunt or fifty-fifty impale a recently planted fig tree. Ameliorate a new tree's chance of survival by planting it then that its shallow roots are 2 to four inches deeper than they were in the tree'south nursery container. Crumble the soil you employ to fill the remainder of the planting pigsty, and pack information technology downwardly several times to remove its air pockets.

Give a fig tree x gallons of water three times each week during the outset yr after you institute it.

Applying a 4-inch-deep layer of grass clippings or straw mulch on the soil surface around the tree -- but non touching the tree'south trunk -- helps foreclose moisture from evaporating from the soil above the tree'southward shallow roots. Mulch also smothers weeds, which may compete with the tree for moisture.

Water and Soil Nematodes

Roots growing shut to the soil surface are susceptible to soil nematodes that feed on small roots. Nematodes are pocket-sized, round worms; they should not be dislocated with larger worms used for line-fishing. Nematodes feeding on small fig roots reduce the amount of water that the roots are able to take in.

Nematodes typically announced during droughts. Suppress their appearance by watering your tree at the first sign of drought.