Question
Will,

I recently moved into a house that has a nice, large ficus tree planted in-ground in a spa room.  The problem with the tree is that it is just too big for the room.  It has grown up to the skylight and has no more room to grow.  I would like to know if I can cut the tree back or if I just need to get rid of it all together.  If I can cut it back, how far can I go?

Right now, the tree is approximately 9' tall.  The stalk extends up about 4' then branches off, then at about 6' the foliage begins.

Thanks in advance.

Answer
Hi Kim,

Yes, Ficus trees are very responsive to pruning. You can prune them back as far as you want. However, there is a bit of art involved in getting the results you want. Much like cutting hair.

The key thing to understand is that new growth will emerge just below the point on any stem where you make the pruning cut and grow up from there. So try to anticipate where you want the new growth to be when you are deciding where to prune. It is usually best to prune off more than you want so that as it grows it will get to the point that you do want.

I hope that is specific enough for you to go ahead and prune. But do know that you cannot damage the tree by pruning. The worst that happens is that it looks a little ugly until it grows back in - just like a bad haircut! LOL!

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
   
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

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