Mulberry (also known as mulberry) is a favorite among gardeners as a fruit-bearing and ornamental plant. Generally, the plant requires minimal maintenance, which should include pruning. The procedure is performed twice: in spring and fall, following the diagram and picture. Pruning instructions vary for different varieties. A step-by-step video for beginners shows how to prune mulberries correctly. Anyone can do this job. The main thing is to follow the procedure and timing.
Objectives of mulberry cultivation
Mulberry is an easy-to-grow plant. It has no special soil requirements. However, care requires timely pruning. The goals of this procedure are:
- rejuvenation;
- health improvement;
- formation of a beautiful crown.
You may be interested in:Proper rejuvenation and pruning of mulberries in the fall is only possible for trees older than six years. Old branches are removed. This allows more nutrients and light to reach the young shoots. Young branches grow rapidly, the crown thickens, and the result is a bountiful and abundant harvest. Mulberry trees are also pruned for decorative purposes. Mulberry tree training begins in the first year. Tree height is limited to 3 m (for southern regions) to 2 m (in northern regions). Southern regions for mulberries include the Rostov Region and Krasnodar Krai, while northern regions include all regions north of Voronezh, including Moscow and the Urals.
When thinning, it's important to follow not only the procedure's rules but also the timing. Pruning at the wrong time can kill the plant. It's best to prune mulberries to shape their crown in early spring, before the sap begins to flow. In spring, rejuvenation pruning is performed simultaneously with the formative pruning. In summer, only green shoots are pruned. Mulberry pruning is done in the fall after the leaves have fallen. This prepares the mulberry for dormancy, and sap flow slows, allowing the cuts to heal before the first frost. Any pruning, whether spring or fall, should be done when the temperature is above 8°C. This will ensure that the mulberry tree doesn't freeze later. If done correctly, the mulberry will quickly recover and prepare for winter, becoming frost-resistant.
Always use tools with sharp blades for this procedure: pruning shears and a garden saw. Pruning shears are suitable for thin shoots up to 2.5 cm in diameter. For branches thicker than this diameter, use a garden saw. In hard-to-reach areas, use a lopper.
Before starting work, tools are disinfected with alcohol or fire. Damaged, dry, and crooked branches are trimmed first, followed by branches growing inward. If new shoots have appeared near the mature tree over the summer, they are also removed. Branches are carefully inspected for fungus; if any are found, they are removed first.
Pruning fruit trees of different ages
Young mulberries grow very rapidly, so crown formation begins when they are less than two years old. Newly planted trees have their shoots pruned to properly shape the central core and branches for future growth. All branches are removed from the trunk at a height of 1.5 m above the ground. This prevents mature branches from drooping to the ground and lying on the ground. The main stem can reach 5-6 m. All competing shoots are removed. If a shorter plant is desired, the top is cut at a height of 1.4-1.7 m. A skeleton consisting of 8-10 skeletal branches is then formed. Drooping branches are not pruned; they are supported by supports. The created shape is subsequently maintained by removing unnecessary stems.
After 4-6 years, growth slows. Nurseries typically sell 5-6-year-old seedlings. By this time, the crown has already formed, so the plant only requires sanitary pruning. The younger the tree, the more carefully this process is performed. Young trees are pruned in the fall only in southern regions, where temperatures remain above 5°C throughout the winter. Mature trees can also be pruned in the fall.
Trees of any age are pruned without damaging skeletal or fruiting branches. Shoots are shortened 0.5-1 cm above the bud at a 50-degree angle. If an entire branch is being removed, the blade is positioned strictly perpendicular to it to ensure a smooth cut.
Pruning different varieties: features
Different mulberry varieties are grown for different purposes, so their pruning patterns vary. If a tree is planted for berries, it is trained as a fruit tree. To achieve a large harvest, several fruiting tiers are formed. The distance between tiers is 50-60 cm. Trees planted for ornamental purposes are pruned to achieve the desired crown shape. Ornamental varieties are popular not only with gardeners but also with landscape designers. Due to the specific pruning pattern, they produce fewer fruits but retain a beautiful crown. The main varieties are:
- weeping or standard;
- pyramidal (formation of mulberry bush);
- spherical (in the form of a sphere, ball).
These varieties are distinguished by their unusual crowns. Their large, bright green foliage turns yellow in the fall. When designing parks, these trees are often planted next to evergreen conifers.
The most common variety of ornamental mulberry is the weeping or standard mulberry. It is distinguished by its compact size and was bred primarily for ornamental purposes. Its slender shoots, like those of a willow, cascade to the ground. A weeping mulberry will grace both the smallest garden plot and a large park. Formation of a standard tree begins in the first or second year after planting. All lateral branches are removed from the trunk, leaving only those at the top. This method creates a standard tree without lateral branches, 1.5-2 meters high. Young shoots are pruned above the third or fourth bud. The remaining top bud should grow outward from the trunk. The upper branches then grow and cascade downward, forming a dome-shaped structure around the trunk. The process is repeated in the third or fourth year. By the fourth year, the tree should be fully formed. In the fourth and fifth years, trimming is done to achieve evenness.
This variety also requires regular crown thinning, as the large number of branches chokes out foliage growth. Excess branches are removed, but the crown shape is left intact. Weeping mulberry will not suffer even from severe pruning. Branches are shortened to 25-30 cm. The branches quickly grow back and continue to bear fruit.
Pyramidal and spherical mulberries are popular with landscape designers. The pyramidal mulberry is distinguished by its tall, slender crown, reaching a height of 8 m. The spherical mulberry has a short tree with a dense crown resembling a sphere. These varieties require regular pruning at the same time every year. To maintain their shape, ornamental varieties are trimmed during the summer months. Pyramidal trees tolerate pruning well, so they are even used in sculptural compositions in landscaping. The simplest and most popular form of pyramidal mulberry is bush pruning. Take a tree with already formed shoots, and in the first year, leave 2-4 strong shoots, those that are at a 45° angle to the trunk and higher than 15 cm from the ground. Shoots are pruned above the 3rd or 4th bud from the base. The main shoot is left at the same length as the apical shoot. The following year, the shoots are shortened by 1-3 times their length. By the 3rd year, the tree should have 4-9 skeletal branches.
You may be interested in:Types of pruning
Mulberry tree pruning schemes vary depending on the intended purpose. Three schemes are distinguished:
- formative;
- rejuvenating;
- sanitary.
When choosing a pruning scheme, consider the age of the tree. Formative pruning is necessary for trees up to six years old. Until this age, mulberries are in their active growth phase. Trees older than this age do not undergo drastic crown changes. Care in the early years determines the mature shape of the plant. This shape depends on the tree's intended use. With this in mind, mulberries are cultivated as shrubs, brooms, weeping trees, or ornamental standard trees.
Rejuvenation pruning, on the other hand, is performed on trees over six years old. It's aimed at maintaining yield levels and is performed either in spring or fall. The older the mulberry tree, the less fruit it produces. Rejuvenation pruning helps address this issue and ensure a bountiful harvest each season. Sanitary pruning is performed every three years. Damaged branches are removed. Any excessively thin stems on the trunk are removed. Shoots growing toward the center of the crown are pruned. The purpose of this procedure is to prevent various diseases and pests. It ensures the plant remains healthy, and therefore productive. Thus, sanitary pruning is essential, while formative pruning is needed when growing a tree for ornamental purposes.
You may be interested in:Caring for the plant after pruning
Mulberry pruning is a necessary procedure. It will be successful if done correctly and at the right time. The tree will remain healthy and fruitful for many years. Fall pruning of mulberries is the penultimate stage of preparation for winter. Mulberry trees are cared for in the fall, fertilizing them with superphosphate to allow them to gain strength before winter. The fertilizer is applied to the soil around the trunk.
The soil is first loosened and then covered with a layer of compost ("mulch") after fertilization. Nitrogen-containing fertilizers are not used, as they can burn the roots. All cut branches are immediately collected and burned to prevent the spread of diseases and pests. A lime wash is applied to the trunk.
Of the three types of pruning, sanitary pruning is mandatory. It's performed in the fall, but it's generally not necessary every year. The need for it will be evident by a noticeable reduction in yield. Usually, once every three years is sufficient. In addition to sanitary pruning, mature fruit trees require rejuvenation pruning. Formative pruning of mulberry trees is performed for decorative purposes.
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