Table of Contents
How do you take care of a mulberry tree?
Mulberries are easy to grow. Fertilize in spring with compost and mulch to keep the soil evenly moist. Prune young trees in late winter to develop strong structural branches. To keep tall varieties in bounds, consider summer pruning to cut back the branches and make the tree more of a rounded shape.
How do I keep my mulberry tree healthy?
The trees are fairly drought tolerant but will benefit from some irrigation during the dry season. Mulberries do well without additional fertilization, but a 10-10-10 application, once per year will keep them healthy. Mulberries are even primarily free from most pests and disease.
Do mulberry trees need a lot of water?
Mulberry trees should receive at least 1 inch of water each week for optimal growth and fruit production. If you receive this amount of rainfall in your area each week, you won’t need to use the hose. During dry spells, fruit may drop prematurely if irrigation is insufficient.
How do I get my mulberry tree to produce fruit?
Fertilize your mulberry trees with a fertilizer that is rich in potassium such as 5-8-5. Potassium-rich fertilizers help to increase blossoms in plants, which leads to more fruit production. Plant your trees in loamy, well-drained soil. Pruning reduces the amount of fruit that grows on the current season’s growth.
Do you trim mulberry trees?
We prune our mulberry very hard every winter to keep it contained, and to ensure that the fruit is reachable without a ladder. You might like a bit more tree than us, but nevertheless trim out weak growth. Follow the winter prune with a feed and water. A light prune after the harvest in summer is also advised.
How often do mulberry trees produce fruit?
Everbearing mulberry trees are self-fertile, so you only need one to yield a crop. In general, it can take up to two to three years for everbearing mulberry trees to fruit. However, some nurseries carry everbearing mulberry trees that will fruit the first year. The trees bear fruit from June until September.
What is the best fertilizer for mulberry?
Mulberry trees benefit from spring fertilization with a slow-release, balanced fertilizer. In early spring apply a granular, general-purpose 5-5-5 or 10-10-10 fertilizer. DO NOT over fertilize the Mulberry, too much nitrogen will inhibit fruiting. Use mulch for ground planted trees only.
Why does my mulberry tree have no fruit?
The main reason you don’t see fruit is probably frost. Frost can be tricky and unsuspected, as we don’t always pay close attention early in the season. You may see flowers, but if you cut the flower open, the ovary may be brown and dead inside.
Can mulberry grow in pots?
Most Mulberry trees grow large and are not well-suited for container growing. Choose a dwarf tree variety for container growing. There are many dwarf black Mulberry cultivars. Planted Mulberries in containers about 24 inches wide and deep.
Do mulberries like full sun?
Mulberries prefer a well-drained, fertile soil and tolerate any conditions except wet soils. They withstand drought and salt conditions, making them a good urban or seaside planting. They do best with full sun but tolerate light shade. Allow a space of 25 to 30 feet around each tree.
How long do mulberry trees live?
The tree has a relatively short life span, even though some have been found to live up to 75 years, most white mulberry have life spans averaging between 25 – 50 years. Figure 1. Height and general structure of variable shaped White Mulberry trees.
Do you need 2 mulberry trees to get fruit?
Depending on the variety, mulberries are either self-pollinating or require separate male and female trees to produce fruit. Be sure to check on the exact variety and make sure you get a male if necessary. Up here in the north country (zone 4), all the cold-hardy mulberry varieties I know of are self-fruitful.
How can you tell if a mulberry tree is male or female?
A mulberry tree is termed male if it bears male flowers that contain the pollen necessary to fertilize female flowers in order for them to produce fruit. A tree is termed female if all its flowers are female flowers, with stigma that receives pollen and a mechanism that directs the pollen to the ovary at its base.
How long does a mulberry bear fruit?
Harvesting. Mulberries can take as long as eight or nine years to produce fruit after planting. The main picking season is between August and September. Gather mulberries by shaking branches over a sheet spread on the ground, but wear gloves to avoid the fruit staining your hands.
How fast does mulberry tree grow?
Growth Rate and Size Mulberry trees are rated as fast-growing, capable of developing 10 to 12 feet during a six-year period. White mulberry trees can grow to 80 feet tall at maturity while red mulberry trees tops out at 70 feet with a comparable spread.
Can you prune mulberry trees in summer?
Although most trimming should be done in winter, you can do some selective trimming in the summer if your tree is growing too much for your liking. For example, you can trim off the top of the tree in summer to control its height.
