My new (old) house has a fig (a Celeste, I believe, although who can really tell with figs) in the backyard that was severely shaded, forcing it to grow out over the yard at a forty-five degree angle for about twenty-five feet. It is also quite sparsely branched and overall just looks rather pathetic. The tree that was suppressing it toppled over last winter, so it now gets a fair amount of sunlight. I would like to give it a rejuvenation pruning, but I've never done one with a fig. If anyone has any experience, suggestions would be appreciated. I'm really wondering whether, if I cut it about half way back, that will stimulate branching only near the cut, or all the way along the trunk. The alternative is to just lop it off at about two feet high and then prune the regrowth as desired. It's about six inches in diameter.
Also wondering when to time this pruning - late winter, I assume?
Finally, I was wondering if anyone has Violette de Bordeaux and might be willing to send along cuttings, or a rooted cutting.
Thanks,
Ellery

You can prune heavy in winter after the leaves drop. I don't think I can send you cuttings of Violette De Bordeaux from CA or I would. Try www.figs4fun.com its a great site for fig lovers. There is a forum there where people often trade fig cuttings... they are very passionate about figs!

I know that the Celeste will withstand heavy pruning and it is best done in the winter. My advise would be to do it in stages so that you don't loose the whole crop next year. Once the sunlight is turned on the side that was shaded it will naturally start growing that direction.