Re: 41yo ficus cut back thoughts..
Posted: May 22nd, 2017, 6:13 pm
Hi Bonsai creations -
I would also advise to do a cut back similar to areas as you've shown marked in Red. I was given an old fig (approx. 30ish) mid last year that had been growing in shade for most of it's life. Looked very neglected, large leaves & lanky. I cut back all branches around the same location areas as your showing and boom
! - shoots came everywhere, also in response to this came new aerial roots all over the trunk base which you could keep (tree will fuse to help with taper) or remove depending on your taste. They are extremely forgiving. I moved the plant to full sun & I can still hear it yelling "thank you" from the back yard.
Do you have a vision of what you would like the canopy to eventually look like?
I would also advise to do a cut back similar to areas as you've shown marked in Red. I was given an old fig (approx. 30ish) mid last year that had been growing in shade for most of it's life. Looked very neglected, large leaves & lanky. I cut back all branches around the same location areas as your showing and boom

Do you have a vision of what you would like the canopy to eventually look like?