Hello.
I am not a fig specialist, but I grow about 20 different types of fruit trees in my fields.
Some of them could be applied to figs.
First, how to cut branches.
Usually, fruit trees such as apples leave just a little bit of branch tip with an eye to the fleshing out of the tree.
However, grapes, kiwis and other fruit trees have rough branches, and this method may kill the buds.
Figs are just between normal fruit trees and vines.
There are two main types of pruning for fruit trees with rough branches.
One is internode pruning.
Cutting between the nodes and lengthening them protects the buds from drying out.
The remaining parts are not fleshed out and can be removed next season.
The second is sacrificial bud pruning.
Cut the buds, including the bud one above the bud you want to keep.
The nodes have a septum and cutting including the bud prevents the pith from being exposed and protects the bud below.
More resistant to low temperatures and drought than internode pruning.
If buds emerge above the sacrificial bud, they need to be raked by hand and the remaining branches removed.
It is particularly cold regions that use
this method, which is even more prudent for figs, as there is no septum at the nodes in the first place.
