Making My Yard More Functional

Posted on: 4 September 2018

There are many benefits to having trees in your yard. Not only do they provide shade, but they also improve your curb appeal and home value. Fortunately, certain trees, like the mulberry tree, produce fruit that can be consumed by you and your family. It may be surprising to learn that mulberries are both delicious and healthy. These berries are loaded in vitamins and antioxidants that improve your immune system, regulate blood pressure, ease inflammation, and even fight cancer. To reap the benefits of this beautiful tree that produces amazing berries, use this guide for tips on how to plant and maintain your mulberry tree.

Planting

Location is important when planting a mulberry tree that will grow, thrive, and produce plentiful mulberries. These trees prefer areas that receive full sun, so make sure to choose a sunny area of your garden or yard.

The type of soil is also important. Your mulberry tree should be planted in a location with soil that is well drained. It should not remain too dry or too moist.

When you dig a hole for the tree, make sure the top of the root ball is level with the ground. Fill the hole in with a combination of traditional soil and organic matter.

Use your hands or feet to pack the soil and compost loosely around the tree's roots. Then, water the tree and the soil thoroughly.

Maintaining

One of the greatest benefits, other than the supply of mulberries you will receive, is that the tree is incredibly easy to grow. Basically, once planted, it needs very little maintenance.

Fertilizing the tree each year can be beneficial. Make sure to apply a slow-release fertilizer that contains equal parts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Pruning is also a part of maintenance that is helpful, but not always necessary like some trees. During its early years, use pruning shears to trim off limbs, branches, and foliage that are growing haphazardly. This will help "train" the tree to grow in a certain shape or manner, improving its look as it grows over the years.

It is important to make small and short cuts, since excessive pruning can damage the limbs and foliage, reducing the tree's ability to grow and produce berries.

Using your pruning shears to thin out middle branches that are connecting or growing on top of one another will improve air flow through the tree. This improved air circulation can prevent fungal growth. 

If the foliage and numerous branches are starting to decay, your mulberry tree is most likely infected with a fungal disease. If you don't remove the tree from your landscape, the fungus can spread to other mulberry trees planted nearby and even into the roots, affecting other plants in the same area. Contact a tree removal service for help with this problem.