Is my fig tree dead or in shock?

Question

I have a large fig tree that has always been super healthy. With the odd winter we had this year, the tree bloomed several times but the buds fell off with the next cold snap. Now the tree has no leaves or buds. It usually was full of leaves by this time. It does have several small shoots with leaves coming out of the main trunk. We are also getting many leafy shoots coming from the base of the tree. Is the tree in shock? What should we do?

Answer 1

Your tree is not dead, because it’s sending out new shoots, but it is traumatized. However, with TLC and some pruning, it should recover. The first thing is to cut off the dead wood. You can start with the smaller twigs, starting at the ends and working backward until you come to green tissue. You can scrape the larger branches with a knife to see if there is green under the bark. Here’s an article on fig pruning: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/figs/pruning-fig-trees.htm
and here’s one on fig care: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/figs/how-to-grow-figs.htm