The Fig Tree 3 Layer Wrap Method for Winter Protection
A fig tree is wrapped to protect the upper growth from freezing during the winter and dying off. Whether or not you wrap a fig tree depends on the variety and how cold your winters gets. If you don’t get freezing winters, there is no need to wrap your fig trees. Here in Maryland Zone 7 my ‘Chicago Hardy’ figs don’t get wrapped and they produce every year. However, I have to wrap my ‘Brown Mission’ fig tree.
It is important to know if your fig tree produces on first year woody growth or on second year wood or 2 year old branches. The problem with my ‘Brown Mission’ fig tree is that it produces on second year branches, but the winter kills of all the upper growth. If I don’t wrap it, I don’t get figs. The tree is just stuck in a cycle of producing first year branches that die off every winter.
The 3 Layer Fig Wrap Method
You have to look up the variety of fig you are growing and determine weather or not it needs to be wrapped for the winter. The full 3 layers is for figs that need significant protection because an area gets freezing temperatures below 25° F or -4° C (generally speaking) for prolong periods of time such as 24 hour periods or for several days and even weeks.
Clean Up Space & Tie Up Fig Branches
The first step is to clean up the space. Remove any dead or unwanted branches. I recommend trimming the height of the fig tree to 5-6 ft/1.52-1.82 m. This is a size that is more manageable for wrapping easily. For larger trees, you may want to get some help as a ladder is often needed. Tying up the branches tightly, creates a bundle that requires less material wrapping. Remove leaves and other material around the base of the fig tree.
The Leaf ‘Sweater’ Layer
Add this layer if you get freezing periods that last for several days or weeks. Many fig varieties can take a night of freezing temperatures but they can’t manage 24 hour periods of freezes. You can use wire fencing to make a cage around the tied fig branches. Fill the cage with leaves, pine needles, straw, or hay and pack it in well around the bundled branches. This will create an insulating core for fig trees that are more sensitive to prolong freezing periods.
The Heat Absorbing Layer
You can use black paper, fabric, or any material that will absorb the sun’s heat. Wrap the fig tree in 2 or 3 layers of this material. Not only does it absorb the sun’s radiation but it creates the first level of a wind barrier to stop the wind from blowing across the branches. At this point we have insulation and a material that absorbs heat from the sun.
The Solar ‘Greenhouse’ Layer
Finally the fig tree should be wrapped in 2 layers of plastic. I use 4 mil greenhouse plastic but you can use any plastic that has decent thickness. Make sure you overlap gaps well to prevent wind from blowing into your wrapped fig tree. Once the plastic is on, tightly tie off the top to prevent heat from escaping. The 3 layer method is best suited for colder freezing winters. You can adjust you wrapping by omitting the ‘sweater’ layer if you don’t get prolong periods of freezing temperatures. Adapt this design to your fig tree’s needs and your winter temperatures.
The plastic layer allows the sun in and it traps in the heat. The black material layer absorbs the sun’s rays and heats up. The leaves hold heat in their air pockets that warm during the day and provides a couple degrees of warmth at night. The multiple layers prevents wind from blowing the warmer air away. The key is to prevent the wood of the fig tree from freezing for prolonged periods.
