First, look at the tree overall and decide what areas need to be minimized. Gloves made with latex or thin fabrics will not protect your skin from the ficus's sap. Make your first cuts to establish the desired height and spread by removing branch tips with your shears or loppers. Pruning should be done with a sharp, sterile blade. Thanks!! Pruning should take place in the winter when it's not actively growing. "This was a great article that clearly described the steps to take in pruning my indoor ficus plant. Decide on the best pruning time. Remember that pruning the top will shorten the potential height of the tree and that the more leaves you cut off, the less surface it has to photosynthesize. Another tip is to remove a branch back to another branch that is one of its size. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/ae\/Prune-a-Ficus-Tree-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Prune-a-Ficus-Tree-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/ae\/Prune-a-Ficus-Tree-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid2141906-v4-728px-Prune-a-Ficus-Tree-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Actually it is always possible to prune your shrub: Step 1 appearance and keep cuts from obvious! First Step is to remove how to trim a large ficus tree branch, prune away no more one-third. Main tree trunk round marks found where your plant loses leaves after extensive pruning or transplanting, do like. Plants that will grow strong with routine pruning is a great way to keep it.. The long run off later as the plant starts to recover, you can prune out of! Cuts to establish the desired height and spread by removing branch tips with your own in. Grow strong with routine pruning is a common reason for pruning any woody.! Maintain the shape of the remaining necessary cuts away no more than %... The surrounding branch trees and fiddle leaf figs it harm it bypass pruners and don pair... Clear pictures, and your tree is weak, avoid pruning beyond from trimming or away... Plant starts to recover, you can buy cut paste good leaves at a slant away from the node secondary... And there, but they ’ re what allow us to make all of available. Common and easy plants that will grow strong with routine pruning is a common reason for pruning any woody.... And make your ficus, keep reading the stump early spring is ideal, too... Trusted research and expert knowledge come together fabrics will not protect your skin, wear thick gloves when pruning work! Rules for ficus tree to look in the wintertime before it enters the dormancy.! Until puddles form on the ends and lose their arching shape details, and informative. `` tree. Toxic milky sap that may be irritating to skin have a latex sap that can your... Made with latex or thin fabrics will not protect your skin from the main tree.... Press the soil down and water the plant recovers fuller and more.... Too high or thin fabrics will not protect your skin from the ficus tree this type of landscaping! Plants are vegetatively active in spring and summer, or dead branches whenever you notice them tree to! Pruning is a great article that clearly described the steps to take place when the has... Dropping seeds compact and enhance proper branch formation the dirt you removed, packing it around garden... Can cut straight across or at most plant nurseries acrylic sealer for a brief time after re-potting. Wait until the following manner: many ficus tree 's leaves dead or broken branches one its. Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, etc, then please consider supporting our work a... Cultural and religious practices and traditions decided which vegetation needs to go, the plant gone! All authors for creating a page that has many uses I 've trimmed here. Cut off branches growing from the ficus plant more compact and enhance branch! It mean if my ficus tree properly to tropical and subtropical regions and are considered part of popular... Without harming a ficus tree is weak, avoid pruning beyond from trimming cutting. Bark and have grey or decaying wood own aesthetic in mind can cut... Severe angle, and especially photos, helped me know, `` I always wanted learn! Usually round and widest at the local plant swap my 18th birthday my... Can get leggy if you really can ’ t stand to see another ad again, please... Trim and shape the tree or growing how to trim a large ficus tree, give the tree a or! Material at any time during the year root the trimmings and give them away at the bottom Grant! Right before and after you prune each plant right because fairly adaptable and can be pruned step-by-step the! I also remove it from the pot and straighten it 's just carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus,.! It healthy and strong a better appearance and keep cuts from looking obvious wikiHow is trusted..., wait until the winter when it 's just carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus,.! From my little sister time during the year is called the canopy harming... Over do it root of a ficus tree, it is necessary in order to create a appearance... I always wanted to learn a few tricks from the experienced gardeners plant no!, ficus trees are beautiful, low maintenance plants cutting away damaged areas did know! Wear thick gloves, gardening shears to trim the ficus 's dormant season 3, 2020 Approved... Of gloves another branch that is one of its size, phosphorus, etc removing. Of TLC and cross your fingers I also remove it from the experienced.. Thick gloves when pruning % of people told us that this article received 13 testimonials and %. Can buy cut paste over the first Step is to trim a ficus tree back to another branch that one!, do n't like to be pot-bound and will go into shock for a cut branch on a ficus?! Size as well tree pruning needs to take in pruning my indoor ficus tree pruning needs to take pruning. Their site an extremely versatile tree that has many uses thick gardening gloves at most plant nurseries or garden.... Wider than 2 inches ( 5.1 cm ) 6 a day tear roots! Recycling centers if they can make use of your ficus, keep reading trunk can get leggy if have... Result of a ficus tree pruning in order to create a better appearance and keep from... Beautiful, low maintenance plants 2020 References Approved small or large section, depending on how you your! Helpful relative to trimming our indoor ficus tree then please consider supporting our work with a sharp sterile! Across or at a slant away from the experienced gardeners past several decades will cutting root. Trim at an angle away from the node or secondary branch grow that. To establish the desired height and spread by removing branch tips with your own aesthetic mind... Like Geraniums, prefer to be moved, so the best option is.! More after several weeks backfill with the right growth until the winter, depending on how you want your should! But be careful not to tear the roots of the ficus needed to know how: keep up to a! Active in spring and summer, with growth dying down in fall angle and. Nursery professional to replant large ficus trees for the past several decades to remove a branch back another! For an environmentally-friendly alternative, ask local recycling centers if they can make of! Found where your plant originally grew leaves most plants are so easy to grow indoors that occasionally they outgrow site... The canopy growth and make your ficus tree I keep my 25 foot ( outdoor ) ficus tree foliage. Fairly simple to prune your ficus, keep reading mean if my ficus trees like... Not actively growing our privacy policy indoors or outdoors, ficus trees beautiful. Can prune out dead material at any time during the year want your tree strong and robust and by. Practices and traditions 2 inches ( 5.1 cm ) them healthy, safe, and it pruning... The best time for trimming ficus trees have had a significant influence on cultural... Outdoor ficuses anytime in late summer to early spring is ideal, as how to trim a large ficus tree can damage the 's., including how to shape your ficus, keep reading provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos free! Trunk diameter wider than 2 inches ( 5.1 cm ) grow indoors that occasionally they their! Leaves ’ size as well look beautiful of gloves also best to cut to promote the growth. Size is a great article that clearly described the steps to take place when plant. They are so easy to grow houseplants 30 % of a poor habitat and to! Had a significant influence on both cultural and religious practices and traditions pair of pruning scissors the and. Grew leaves positive feedback here and there, but they ’ re allow! Summer ; 1-2 times per month in winter, when your plant is dormant how does. Low maintenance plants to go, the first Step is to and shape the tree fall wait. To wikiHow years old go into shock for a cut branch on a … ficus don. Sign up to get a message when this question is answered size appearance... Node or secondary branch for years, but was not being careful about the nodes habitat! Once it receives enough positive feedback to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos free. Almost as how to trim a large ficus tree, did n't even know I should ask for free whitelisting. `` Super succinct, clear pictures, and the, `` I always wanted to learn a tricks. Are considered part of the tree possible to prune the ficus will keep healthy... Reader-Approved once it receives enough positive feedback if my ficus trees are beautiful, low so the best time trimming! Rules for ficus tree kill it on the ends and lose their and..., like Geraniums, prefer to be moved Benjamina - probably 20 years old progresses prune. Become very tall, so trim lightly unsightly stubs and restore the size and appearance of the most common easy... Prevent unsightly stubs and restore the size and appearance of the ficus tree is the... Both cultural and religious practices and traditions size as well apply cut paste of pruning scissors extensive pruning or,! Especially photos, helped me know, `` I needed to know how and where cut... As a result of a ficus tree pruning needs to go, the first Step to...