when to prune a ficus tree
Trim outdoor ficuses anytime in late summer, fall, or spring.
Outdoor ficuses are fairly adaptable and can be trimmed during most seasons.
Anytime from late summer to early spring is ideal, as this is right before and after your ficus’s dormant season.
Try not to prune your outdoor tree in early summer, as this can induce an off-season growth spurt and leave your plant more vulnerable to frost.
Prune indoor ficuses in summer, autumn, or early spring.
Indoor ficuses need regular pruning to remove old leaves and shape the plant to its living space.
Avoid pruning your indoor ficus in mid-spring, however, particularly when it is forming new leaves and buds
Shape ficuses in winter. For extensive shaping, wait until your plant’s dormant season in winter.
Your plant is least likely to sustain shock from pruning and, with outdoor plants, you’ll be able to see the branch structure better
Prune away diseased, broken, or dead branches anytime.
Dying or dead branches can weaken your tree and make it vulnerable to further damage.
To prevent this from happening, remove damaged branches as you notice them.
If your tree is weak, avoid pruning beyond trimming or cutting away damaged areas
Prune your ficus in the spring if you want it to grow fuller.
If you’ve noticed excessively thin areas on your ficus, pruning can encourage branching.
Try trimming your ficus in early springtime to encourage branch and foliage growth during the next season.
If you’ve noticed thinning in summer or early fall, wait until the following season to prune for this reason.