Mulberry worries

[sloth]

It is spreading daily to affect the whole tree. Older leaves more affected than younger ones, and dropping generally without wilting or fully dying first. I've checked lots of nutrient deficiency charts etc, and nothing quite fits. I think some fish blood and bone might be worth a try; not sure how my wife would feel about me wanting to spread more woodchip mulch around the garden!

[Peasgood]

I'm no expert by any means but sounds more like a root rot disorder but no harm in trying with fertiliser.

 

Here's something I have often wondered, you tree folk go round chopping down trees and chipping the brash. Must be some occasions where the tree you just chipped is dead from some disease or other, does using the chip as a mulch spread the disease?

Valid question as you just suggested you use a lot yourself and now have a sick tree.

I certainly won't mulch my apple trees with any apple sawdust I produce from logging for that reason.

[sloth]

Something I've pondered my self too. I came to the conclusion that any pathogens or pests etc would be adapted to a life on a living/dying tree, once that tree (and pathogen) is chipped up the 'whole tree' environment which it benefitted from becomes drastically changed. Then the pile gets really rather hot as it decays, which would kill of a lot of nasties in itself. Certain dead wood specialist fungi (saprophytes - only able to live with on the dead and decaying wood) then take over the chip pile, turning it into a kind of compost and releasing and recycling the nutrients from the woodchip as they devour it. By this time any pathogens from the original tree are long gone, as they cannot survive in the new environment within the well rotted chip. Worms etc also love it at this point, and will naturally incorporate it into the soil, producing a healthy happy soil.

So I'm firmly in the mulch is good camp, you can't keep taking from the soil without giving back!

 

Re a root issue, I wondered this too as the soil sat quite wet during the spring and early summer. I've had a good look and a small dig around the roots/planting area and can see nothing unusual.

I'm well and truly stumped...