Sprawling open habit due to shading. Figs like full hot sun. Cutting it back might just increase its difficulties, re-growth not being as good as if it were in a suitable exposure. Surf "fig trees pruning" and similar phrases for pruning information. Mulching is a good idea as you always want to have garden beds covered with mulch except where growing heat-loving vegetables in cool climates.

3 feet tall, I will not be supprised to see you have figs this year. It might be only a handfull this year. Good luck and congradulations on your new addiction.

Hi Allenwrench You have to do it at least the year you want the figs. I just counted the leaves on each new branch starting from its branching point and cut the rest of the branch after the sixth leaf (per Herman's suggestion). I did something extra after that but I will wait and see if that works and come back to mention it after a few weeks.

Tell us more about what you want, a shade tree or figs to eat. If you want to eat figs, that 'bush' is well formed. I had 4 plants in a 12' x 14' space between 2 driveways in Palo Alto, CA. Each year there is at least the chance of a few days in the mid to upper 20's F. I learned about controlling height after the largest had grown so that I needed a ladder to reach the top. I used it to test out new varieties by bark grafting fresh new growth on the donor tree. I'd suggest pruning to restrict the tree to main crop figs; they are the best tasting in my experience. After the last chance of a hard frost I'd cut last year's growth back to 1 bud facing where I wanted the branch to grow. When that reached 6-8 new leaves I'd start pinching out the new growth buds until the season ends. Some varieties only need one pinching, others send up a new shoot that must be removed before it grows to a point that is out of reach. Do an image search on your favorite search engine for the string "fig pruning" to see the possibilities. Remember, main crop figs form at the leaf nodes. Enough for now, baumgrenze Below are 2 photos, one after pruning in late January 2016 and another in mid-May.