Hi there,
This tree was a whip a mere 3 years ago and has been fruiting (delicious and prolific!) for 2 summers. The speed of growth is unbelievable; we haven't fertilized or anything.
There is one branch growing horizontally quite low to the ground, about a foot and a half off the ground (lower right corner of photo). Will it rise up the trunk as the tree grows, or will it stay low? Should I prune it off? Many thanks!
This message was edited Apr 11, 2020 6:38 PM
The low branch can be pruned/lopped/sawed off close to the trunk. No need to "paint" it as that practice has been abandoned in recent years. The branch will not "rise" as the tree grows but will thicken as the tree thickens and the growing tips will grow longer.
https://www.arboristnow.com/news/wound-paint-falling-out-of-favor
https://extension.unh.edu/blog/should-i-cover-large-pruning-wounds-tree-wound-dressing
https://blog.davey.com/2016/04/wait-before-you-use-pruning-sealer-on-trees/
The two volunteer mulberries I have can be cut to the ground and will sucker out and grow three to six feet in a season. GRRR!
You can prune it like this one I saw at the nursing home my dad was in a few years ago. Looks like it would be a never ending job to keep it shaped up.
I agree with hcmcdole's comments on how to prune your mulberry - till the last paragraph. Your plant will never grow like that. Continue to prune off any branches that are in your way height-wise, or that grow toward the interior of the tree, or are rubbing against each other. Mulberry trees are quite forgiving, and quite vigorous as noted.
The picture shown last there is a weeping/pendulous selection of Morus - likely one called 'Chaparral'. There are other weeping forms, but that one is pretty common and is typically fruitless. It will continuously weep, and it will have branches laying on the ground unless it gets the "bowl cut" as shown regularly. I've always wondered how that plant would do planted next to a cliff, or a really high wall. How low will it grow...
Thanks very much hcmcdole and ViburnumValley (new to the forum and don't know how to mention people; hope you see this). I will go ahead and prune it off then. Hadn't thought about painting the wound, but won't do it now in any case.
