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Unlike apple or other fruit trees, the mulberry tree (Morus) does not have to be pruned for a rich harvest. Nevertheless, pruning can make sense, since the exotic tree grows very quickly, averaging 40 centimeters per year.

In a nutshell

  • Pruning of the mulberry tree is not necessary
  • bears fruit on old and new wood
  • very fast growth, up to 70 centimeters per year possible
  • Keeping the mulberry tree small possible, but difficult
  • suitable as a hedge plant

Pruning - useful or not?

First of all, you can prune the mulberry tree, but you don't have to. Mulberry trees, no matter what kind, are considered to be fast-growing and at the same time very tolerant of pruning. Nevertheless, you should plant such a tree in a suitable location with enough space in width, as keeping it small with secateurs is difficult: You would have to cut the specimen in question twice a year, once in early spring and once after the harvest in autumn. This is a lot of work and often also ensures that the tree really strengthens its growth. The fruit development can also suffer from the strong pruning, so that you have many branches and leaves but little fruit.

White Mulberry (Morus alba)

  • Height: up to eight meters
  • Width: up to four meters
  • Growth rate: an average of 40 centimeters per year

Black mulberry (Morus nigra)

  • Height: up to 12 meters
  • Width: up to four meters
  • Growth rate: grows a little slower than Morus alba

Red mulberry (Morus rubra)

  • Height: up to five meters
  • Width: up to four meters
  • Growth rate: particularly vigorous, up to 70 centimeters per year

All mulberry trees naturally have a sparse habit, grow as large shrubs or small trees and develop a rather rounded crown. Training to a certain growth form, such as the shape of the roof, is possible through targeted pruning measures.

Tip: With such a strong-growing tree, we generally advise against keeping it in a bucket, unless you decide on the dwarf mulberry (Morus accidosa 'Mulle').

grooming and shaping

If you want or have to cut the mulberry tree because space is quite limited and you want to limit the growth of the tree, the best way to do this is as follows:

  • first cut in early spring before budding
  • Cut out dead and dead wood
  • Cut out overlapping branches
  • Cut out inward growing shoots
  • Thin out the crown a bit if necessary
  • shorten shoots that are too long to an outward-pointing eye

The gardener understands the “eye” to be the small knots on each shoot, from which new shoots can grow. Since outward growth is desired (otherwise the crown will be too dense and the fruit will not ripen as well), the "knot" for the new shoots should be on the outside when pruning. When trimming, make sure the crown retains a natural, rounded shape.

Tip: A second pruning takes place after the harvest in early autumn, which is a so-called "summer pruning" - albeit in September. This should slow down the growth of the tree.

Education to the tree

Mulberries usually grow as large, multi-stemmed shrubs and rarely assume a tree form. You have to grow the mulberry to the tree, which is done by suitable pruning measures when young:

  • Plant mulberries
  • choose a strong leader with many side shoots as the trunk
  • Form a crown of side shoots
  • Shorten side shoots, give them a rounded shape
  • remove any excess shoots
  • pay attention to the desired trunk height
  • Also shorten the leader if necessary, it must not be higher than the crown

Always cut back the excess shoots completely, it is not necessary to close the cut wounds. The escaping milky juice closes them sufficiently, only the cutting tool should be sharp and disinfected. The shortening of the crown shoots, on the other hand, should always be done with an outward-facing eye. You repeat these pruning measures up to twice a year in the following years, so that over time a strong trunk and thus a tree develops.

Tip: Some mulberry trees are grafted on a base, which is why you always have to remove the shoots that sprout below the grafting point when grafting - otherwise they would overgrow the weaker noble shoots over time.

mulberry hedge

You also have to cut the mulberry tree if you want to create a mulberry hedge or a mixed hedge. Mulberries are very tolerant of pruning and don't mind heavy pruning, quite the opposite: the more you prune the plants, the denser the bushes grow. When pruning, you should only pay attention to the usual rules for hedge trimming:

  • severe pruning prohibited between March and September
  • Cut conically: narrower at the top than at the bottom
  • this way the lower part of the hedge gets enough sun
  • Summer pruning (cutting back the leafy shrub) slows growth
  • Winter pruning (cutting back before sprouting) promotes growth

Basically, the mulberry hedge should be cut back once in March and once in late summer or early autumn.

espalier shape

Since mulberries are just as easy to grow as they are easy to cut, they can also be used as a trellis. If possible, choose varieties for this form that are grafted onto a slow-growing base. These should also have a trunk that is as short as possible.

  • Tie selected shoots to a trellis
  • only grow to the left, right or up
  • remove remaining shoots
  • Pruning mulberries in spring and summer
  • Plant pruning in March: select leading shoots and fruit shoots
  • second cut in July: shorten side shoots to four to six leaves
  • Shorten the middle shoot, remove competing shoots
  • more grooming cuts every year
  • always make sure that the leading and fruit shoots are fixed to the trellis

Raised in this way, the otherwise sprawling mulberry tree needs significantly less space and can be cultivated perfectly on a warm, sunlit house wall or a light-colored wall. Here you will find more evergreen & hardy espalier trees.

frequently asked Questions

When can you harvest the ripe mulberries?

Depending on the type and variety, the mulberry fruits, which are either white, pink or purple, ripen continuously between July and September. This means you don't harvest the blackberry-like fruits all at once, but gradually. Mulberries can only be stored for a very short time, but can be frozen or preserved well. But you have to be quick when harvesting: Birds are also very fond of the sweet snack fruits, and wasps and other insects also like to nibble on them.

When does the mulberry tree bloom?

The spike-like inflorescences of the mulberry tree, reminiscent of pussy willows, appear between May and June. Typically, both male and female flowers appear on a tree, so the mulberry is usually self-fertile. However, there are exceptions, which are sometimes offered as "fruitless mulberry" or "mulberry without fruit". These are purely male specimens. The pollen is carried by the wind or by bumblebees and bees.

Are Mulberry Trees Hardy?

Mulberry trees originally come from China and have adapted to a warmer climate than prevails in many regions of Germany. Nevertheless, the robust and undemanding trees are considered conditionally hardy, with the sensitivity to cold being quite different between the different species. Morus rubra, the red mulberry, is considered to be particularly hardy, while Morus nigra, the black mulberry, is more sensitive. You should definitely provide young trees with winter protection in the first few years.

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Garden plants