Mulberry Trees, Bushes and Plants: How to Grow and Prune

Mulberry trees take me back to my childhood to a day where my poor mother was beside herself to see me in my Sunday best covered from head to toe in mulberry juice. It was a dress she had made just weeks before, and which was absolutely ruined. There is nothing worse than mulberry juice for mums and clothes, but oh how sublime for children in their innocence!

Growing Mulberry Trees: Suitable Climates

Growing mulberry trees can be done in most climates. I have even grown a mulberry tree very successfully in a desert climate. They love any warm climates, and will survive anywhere as long as the climate is not excessively cold. 

Growing Mulberry Trees: Soil Conditions

They also like a pH soil of 5.5 - 7 and preferably a loamy soil. But even that you can compromise on. They are quite hardy plants. But the species that you want is the black mulberry for its fruit. The white mulberry has very insipid fruit that is only grown for ornamental purposes.

Growing Mulberry Trees: Growing Conditions

Mulberry trees are not trees you want to plant in small gardens. They can reach heights of between 30-50 feet over 20 years of growth. However, if you do have the space, they make wonderful trees for children to climb once established are great fun for the kids if you ever want to keep silkworms! They are also self-fertile, so you don't have to plant more than one get the soft, luscious fruit every year. Best of all, you don't have to wait 20 years before it begins to fruit. Your tree will fruit the very first year, and each successive year the crop will be better than the last. It will fruit well for at least 40 years.

Growing Mulberry Trees: When to Plant

The best time to plant bare-rooted trees is during the winter when the plant is dormant. However, because of the cold, it is best to be extra careful when back-filling the hole that you don't damage the roots that can be quite brittle and fragile. Other plants can be planted in the early spring. Make sure that the hole has a good amount of compost, well-rotted farmyard manure and some blood and bone to give it a good start.

Growing Mulberry Trees: Where to Plant

If you live in a windy area, it is better to find a sheltered spot for it. Young trees don't have strong limbs and could easily be damaged. They also like to be well-watered, especially in the first 2 years as their root system is  still fairly shallow. If you live in a hot climate, it would be best to conserve as much water as possible and therefore a layer of mulch would be highly beneficial for your plant. Water well when the fruit begins to form if you live in a hot climate, because if you don't, your fruit will fall before they have even begun to ripen.

To look after your tree dress with some compost just before it fruits and after it has finished.

Growing Mulberry Trees: Pruning

If you need to prune your tree in anyway, you should do so in the winter months, as your tree will bleed during the times when the sap is rising, and you don't want that.

 

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