| Bought a brown turkey fig tree 3 weeks ago. Now the leaves are turning yellow & falling. Also there are little white spiders on the leaves. What can i do to save it? |
| It sounds as though your new fig tree is going though a little stress, perhaps because of its new location. If you did not plant it in the ground, it is possible that your new fig tree is stressed out because of the temperatures, especially if the container is getting direct sunlight during the afternoons. Nursery containers can overheat and actually cook the roots of your tree. Either bury the container in the ground, shade it with a shrub, or place it in a larger decorative container to keep sunshine from hitting it directly. Water when the top inch of soil dries out. Fig trees won't live outdoors in your climate so you'll need to plan ahead for winter protection. I know of two ways to overwinter fig trees: When the tree becomes dormant in the fall, wrap with some insulating material such as old blankets, quilts, layers of canvas or even sheets of fiberglass. All insulating material should extend from the ground to the top of the plant. This should be topped with a plastic sheet or large plastic bag in order to keep the insulation dry. Be sure that the plastic does not come in contact with the tree itself. When spring weather arrives, remove the insulating material. The second way is to wait until the tree becomes dormant, then carefully cut the branches back, and wrap the top part of the plant with water proof paper and shredded newspapers. Then dig a trench along side of the tree and lay it down, covering with topsoil. In the spring, set the tree upright, cover the exposed roots with soil, and remove the insulating material. Best wishes with your new tree! |
