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Pruning Mulberry trees
I have 2 mulberry trees in my garden in SW France. They have been identified as white mulberries thanks to a previous posting on this forum.
am I able to use these trees the same way the French use their black mulberries by heavy pruning and creating a shade canopy under which to sit? They are currently over 10 years old
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I know very little about growing mulberry trees, although I am particularly fond of one that I know
so I had a Google and found this http://theshakespeareblog.com/blog/page/15/
if you scroll down you'll find stuff about the mulberry tree's connection with Shakespeare - you may not find it interesting, but I did so I thought I'd share
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thank you for your replies pansy face and Dovefromabove. We live between Toulouse and Bordeaux on the edge of Gascony. I will check the Shakespeare connection, my wife will be interested.
my worry is that the trees are likely to grow too large for my garden. I inhereted them and wouldn't have planted them myself. How big is your black mulberry Dovefromabove? Do you have a large garden? Do you let it grow naturally?
The black mulberry that I'm fond of isn't in my garden - it's in an enclosed courtyard, called The Garth at Blackfriars, part of Norwich School of Art. Many a sandwich lunch has been eaten under that tree by happy art students. The Garth is roughly the size of a lawn tennis court.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thank you both. I think my two grow to 20 metres high and will cover my garden. Therefore they are candidates for either severe pruning or felling. Thanks for you help.
I've seen that Wikipedia states they grow to 20m but I'd take that info with a large pinch of salt.
Everywhere else I've seen White Mulberry described as a small to medium sized tree and this site says it'll grow to 5-10m http://www.barcham.co.uk/trees-for-sale/buy-white-mulberry-morus-alba-platanifolia
If it was me I'd want to be much more sure of my information before I started reducing the size of what appear to be lovely well-balanced trees, and possibly ruining their overall appearance.
I think more research is needed.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Mike, I get no fruits. I believe one must have a male and a female For pollinationI have two of the same so, I have been here( in SW France) for 8 years. No fruits! I'm afraid my garden cannot house these two trees.
what more research can I do Dovefromabove above? Any suggestions? I would like to avoid getting rid of them
I understand that if these have been planted to provide shade then they will both have been the same sex, as people don't want the fruits dropping onto garden benches and staining people's clothes etc.
If I were you I'd buy or build a pretty seat and enjoy the garden. I'm sorry but I really can't see anything wrong with your trees. They're a lovely shape, they'll provide you with shade from the noonday sun and they won't grow very much bigger than they already are.
What other planting have you planned for that part of your garden?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Very persuasive Dovefrom above I'll think on. I reckon the largest tree is currently 6 metres high with a spread of 8 metres. It prohibits the planting of a plum tree and an apple which I would like. Perhaps I will keep one.