Mulberry tree pruning

[treesnakey]

Does anyone know the best time to prune and how?

[armchairarborist]

in the dormant season is best to avoid bleeding, they shouldn't need much just deadwooding etc. its a bit late now. Ed

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

depends, mulberries tend to have weak roots and more often than not end up laying on the deck and do fine this way. they dont like too much pruning IME

[Tree Man Tom]

Prune when the moneys right and use a chainsaw

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

prune when the moneys right and use a chainsaw

 

hethen

[agg221]

No personal experience, but I thought this advice might be interesting:

 

From the brilliant Evelyn's 'Sylva, a Discourse on Forest Trees', 3rd edition (1669), Chapter IX on the Mulberry

 

7. Some experienc'd <i>Husbandmen</i> advise to poll our <i>Mulberries</i> every three, or four, years, as we do our <i>Willows</i> : others not till 8 years : both erroneously. The best way is yearly to <i>prune</i> them of their dry, and superfluous branches, and to form their <i>heads</i> round and natural. The first year of <i>removal</i> where they are to abide, cut off all the <i>shoots</i> to five or six of the most promising : the next year leave not above <i>three</i> of thes, which dispose in <i>triangle</i> as near as may be, and then disturb them no more, unless it be to <i>purge</i> them (as we taught) of dead <i>Seare-wood</i>, and extravagant parts, which may impeach the rest ; and if afterward any prun'd branch shoot above three or four <i>Cyons</i>, reduce them to that number. One of the best ways of <i>Pruning</i> is, what they practice in <i>Sicily</i> and <i>Provence</i>, to make the head <i>hollow</i> and like a <i>bell</i>, by cleaining them of their inmost branches; and this may be done, either before they bud, <i>viz</i>. in the <i>New Moon of March</i>, or when they are full of <i>leaves</i> in <i>June</i> or <i>July</i>, if the season prove any thing fresh.

8. The <i>Mulberry</i> is much <i>improv'd</i> by stirring the <i>Mould</i> at the root, and <i>Letation</i>.

 

Hope this helps!

 

I also have 'Culture des Muriers' ('Cultivation of Mulberries') by Nismes (1763) which is more comprehensive on the subject, but in French and having been up since 2.30am courtesy of my 2yr old coherent translation of this is currently beyond me!

 

Alec

[Dave D]

prefarably when all the berries have been eaten, boy theyre messy!

[agg221]

Sorry, not sure why my rendering of italics didn't work, makes it rather unreadable - can any Moderators give me access to fix it? Cheers, Alec

[armchairarborist]

prefarably when all the berries have been eaten, boy theyre messy!

 

but delicious:eating:

[Eagle]

Prune when dormant or in late summer to promote growth. You can prune at anytime of year for H&S or if there are badly diseased branches to stop it spreading. Try to avoid heavy pruning though.