Mulberry

How to grow Mulberries in a garden

1. Choose a sunny spot with well drained soil. Enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.
2. Check the soil pH with a soil pH test kit. Mulberries prefer a slightly acidic soil between 5.5 and 6.5. If the pH is higher than 6.5, to lower soil pH apply Yates Soil Acidifier Liquid Sulfur.
3. Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball.  
4. If planting in winter, soak bare-rooted plants in a bucket of water for 30 minutes prior to planting. Remove from bucket, position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. If planting a potted plant, remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots, then position in hole and backfill.
5. Form a raised doughnut shaped ring of soil around the outer edge of the plant's root zone. This helps keep water where it's needed. Always water in well after planting to settle the soil around the roots.
6. Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, woodchip or pea straw, keeping it away from the trunk.
7. Water deeply, once every 2-3 days, depending on weather conditions. Once established, water deeply once two weeks.
8. During the growing and flowering/fruiting season, feed with Yates Thrive Citrus & Fruit Granular Plant Food. TIP: for an added boost during the flowering/fruiting season, apply Yates Thrive Citrus Liquid Plant Food.

How to grow Mulberries in a pot

If growing in a pot, look for smaller growing varieties such as 'Dwarf Strawberry Shahtoot'.

1. Choose a pot at least 600mm wide. Position in full sun and partially fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.
2. Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.
3. Position in pot and backfill, gently firming down. Water in well.
4. Water deeply, once every 2-3 days, depending on weather conditions. Once established, water deeply once two weeks.
5. During the growing and flowering/fruiting season, feed with Yates Thrive Strawberry & Berry Fruit Liquid Plant Food. Throughout the year, apply Yates Thrive Fish Blood & Bone Plant Food Concentrate.

Growing tips

• Mulberries are a fast growing tree and make for an ideal choice for new gardens.
  
  
• Can be easily propagated from cuttings. In early spring, cut 10 pieces of 90cm long of fresh stems. Fill 140 - 200 mm  pots with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Place cuttings into the pot and keep in a warm but shaded position. Keep moist at all times. For cuttings which survive, plant after about a years time. While Mulberries can be grown from seeds, it may take up to 10 years before they bear fruit, it is best to propagate from cuttings rather than seed. Otherwise, purchase one from your local garden centre or plant nursery.   
   
• Trees can grow up to 12 metres in height and spread about 18 metres. If this is too large, choose a dwarf variety and prune regularly to keep small. 
  
  
• Only pick fruits when they are ripe.
  
  
• Hard prune in winter & lightly prune after fruiting period. 
  
  
• Mulberry leaves are great for feeding silkworm pets.
  
  
• Some varieties include:
  - Morus macroura ‘Shatoot’
  - Morus alba ‘Pendula’
  - Morus nigra ‘Hicks Early’