Is Miracle-Gro suitable for fig trees?

On fig trees, commercial, high-nitrogen fertilizers such as Miracle-Gro promote leaf growth over fruiting. With my Celeste fig, I found I was producing very little fruit, only until I started using balanced 8-8-8 organic mixed fertilizers. Too much nitrogen hinders fig maturity as fig trees will prioritize leaves before figs. One of the best ways of making sure you do not overfeed is to conduct a soil test before planting.

To save a fig that has been over-fertilized, you will need to flush the soil. For each pot, flush the soil with 5 gallons of water. For fig trees growing in the ground, gypsum can be applied to break up salt crusts in the soil. I have a neighbor who had a Brown Turkey recover after replacing the top 6 inches of Miracle-Gro-treated soil with compost and worm castings.

Timing should be taken seriously. Feed figs only in early spring, just as the buds are swelling. Fertilizing in late summer risks tender new growth-freezing at temperatures common in fall. My Chicago Hardy crop failed last year due to feeding the tree in August. The new shoots died back to 28°F (-2°C), costing me a full season's worth of figs.

Watch for signs of nutrient burn or toxicity, like yellow leaf margins, fruit that is stunted, or cracked bark. Foliar sprays, like kelp extract, usually yield quicker results than just adjusting fertility in the soil, so would be a good place to start while they recover. The remedy I always use is 1 tbsp of Epsom salt to a gallon of water, which will fix a magnesium deficiency without over-shocking the roots.

Read the full article: How to Grow Figs: Expert Tips for Thriving Trees