Is it OK to trim the deadwood off of a ficus tree?
Question:I have a Ficus benjamina tree that we bought about 3 months ago from a local nursery. Predictably, it has lost a tremendous amount of leaves after the move and now has a LOT of deadwood -- branches with no leaves or shriveled up leaves. It is starting to put out some new growth, which makes me optimistic that maybe it's not totally dead, but it looks TERRIBLE! Does anyone know if it's okay to trim off some of the deadwood branches? I want to give this tree the best chance possible of coming back to life! Thanks!
Answers:
I would give it like four more weeks to put out as many new leaves and branches as it can. At that point, check the "dead" branches and see if they are still flexible and green under the bark. If they snap and break when you bend them, they are dead, if they bend and are still green under the bark, they are still alive and will possibly still grow.
Once you do get the plant going again, if it's in a pot, turn the pot once a week about one quarter of a turn, it will teach the plant that moving is OK and will not go into shock again if you move it to another room or building.
sure any time is a good to trim dead wood from a tree.don't trim all at once,make sure the limb is in fact dead.no leaves&peeling bark.
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