October 23, 2022

Winterizing Fig Trees in Northeast Ohio

How to prepare fig trees for winter

Fruiting figs (Ficus carica) are a semi-tropical delicacy native to the Mediterranean and beloved for their uniquely delicious fruit offering honey-sweet, seedy flesh that can be eaten fresh, dried, or in preserves. They’re also well-known for their large and wonderfully fragrant, deeply lobed green leaves. These plants grow very well in Northeast Ohio as small trees or large shrubs, but they must be protected over winter because they are only marginally cold tolerant in our region. Fig plants will typically die back to the ground in temperatures below 20°F. Read on to learn how you can keep your in-ground fig trees and potted fig trees alive over winter, so they can be enjoyed spring through fall, year after year.

when is the right time to apply winter protection?

Always wait until late November, when we’ve had 2–3 hard frosts in Northeast Ohio, which triggers dormancy in the plant. You’ll know it’s the right time when the leaves have wilted and mostly fallen off the plant. The Thanksgiving holiday typically signals the right timing on the calendar, give or take a week.

How to winterize potted fig trees inside the garage

This method works great for gardeners with one or two plants that are on the smaller side.

  1. Give the plant one more very thorough watering, and allow it to drain. 
  2. Wrap the plant up with burlap fabric or an old blanket. 
  3. Move the entire potted plant in a corner of the garage. 
  4. Inspect the plant and water lightly once per month. 
  5. Right around Easter, remove winter protection and begin acclimating the plant to the outdoors.

how to winterize potted fig trees and upright in-ground trees outside the home

This method works for potted plants placed up against the side of the house outside, or in-ground trees you want to leave upright all winter.  

For potted plants, move the pot close to the side of the home and proceed with the following steps. For standing trees in-ground, proceed with the following steps: 

  1. Tie the branches up with jute twine. 
  2. Slide a 1” PVC pipe into the wrapped branches to serve as a vent. 
  3. Wrap the plant up with a home insulation-grade blanket. 
  4. Wrap the plant again with a heavy-duty tarp. 
  5. Mulch heavily around the base of the plant, about 6-10” deep. 
  6. Right around Easter, start removing winter protection and begin acclimating the plant.

How to winterize in-ground fig trees by tipping them over onto the ground

This method works for fig trees that have been planted in the ground. It involves tipping them over and applying winter protection at ground level, as opposed to leaving the trees standing upright. 

  1. Tie the branches up with jute twine. 
  2. Dig around the root ball, such that the tree is loosened and the trunk can be fully tipped over and laid onto the ground. 
  3. Cover the entire tree from top to bottom with burlap fabric to protect the branches, trunk, and root ball. 
  4. Add wood pieces that act as a separator to allow circulation and keep other plastic-type materials used from touching the tree and transmitting the cold, which would cause winter burn. 
  5. Cover over the wood pieces with insulated cement-grade blankets. 
  6. Cover over the top of that with a heavy-duty tarp. 
  7. Right around Easter, start removing winter protection and begin acclimating the plant.

help your figs survive the winter

Several common fig trees are available at Petitti’s, allowing you to bring a delicious touch of the Mediterranean to your Northeast Ohio home. These plants are easy to grow but do require winter protection, beginning late November, because they are not winter hardy in our region. With several methods available, choose what works best for you, and you’ll be able to enjoy the fruit and foliage of your deliciously beautiful fig trees for many growing seasons to come. Check out our printable gardening guide for a list of common varieties that grow well in Northeast Ohio and a step-by-step guide to fig tree winter protection.

Search for Your Location

We have ten locations across Northeast Ohio, spanning the Cleveland, Akron-Canton, and Youngstown communities. Search here to find the location most convenient for you.

Loading Locations...