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Fri, Sep 12, 14 at 17:04
| I planted this mulberry a while back. It was about 3 feet tall. It has grown about 5 feet in the last 3 weeks. It is starting to lean, should I cut it back? I know they say mulberries grow fast but wow! This thing is like some kind of mutant weed. It's an Illinois Everbearing if anyone is interested. I got it through the mail from Rolling River Nursery. They were awesome to deal with by the way! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| whoops didn't realize it was sideways, sorry. |
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- Posted by copingwithclay 8B (My Page) on Sat, Sep 13, 14 at 0:13
| Congrats on such a healthy, fast growing tree that is taking advantage of all that direct Sunlight. If it were my tree that I wanted to maximize it's growth and optimize it's shape, I would first sprinkle some fertilizer around the ground that surrounds the tree. I would then lay down a thick layer of woody mulch in a 3 foot circle surrounding the tree. I would regularly water the entire mulched area so that it never got dried out. Next Spring I would whack off the top at about 4 foot high, which will result in the trunk growing replacement branches from below the cut. Several may emerge, and I would choose 3 growing somewhat sideways and pointing in different directions. I would tie the new branches and pull them more horizontal as they grew outward/upward. These would become scaffold branches, sort of like a pruned peach tree. As the tree grew and fruited, a slit pc. of aluminum or galvanized duct could be wrapped around the branchless lower trunk to keep the 4-legged critters from climbing up to harvest your berries each year. The 3 or so scaffold branches will grow many side branches that will fruit for you at a height that will not require a crane to reach. Good luck and enjoy the healthy tree. |
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| It's really your decision to make a tree or shrub. Here's a video about pruning for a bush shape. Brady |
Here is a link that might be useful: Pruning Trees into Bushes
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| Thanksfor the tips! I fertilized it a while back with some 10-10-10. I had it mulched with pine straw, but It was looking kind of black and ragged so I ran it over with the mower, same as the mulch around all my fruit trees. I plan to lay mulch again soon. I hadn't thought of pruning into a bush and using the flashing though! |
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