{"id":1363,"date":"2020-04-01T20:23:19","date_gmt":"2020-04-01T20:23:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.geraniumhomes.com\/blog\/?p=1363"},"modified":"2023-03-24T20:22:10","modified_gmt":"2023-03-24T20:22:10","slug":"mulberry-tree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/mulberry-tree\/","title":{"rendered":"The Appeal of the Weeping Mulberry"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_1370\" style=\"width: 514px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/robinmulberry1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1370\" class=\" wp-image-1370\" src=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/robinmulberry1-1024x901.jpg\" alt=\"robin_mulberry\" width=\"504\" height=\"443\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/robinmulberry1-1024x901.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/robinmulberry1-300x264.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/robinmulberry1-720x633.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/robinmulberry1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 504px) 100vw, 504px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1370\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A daily sight &#8211; Robins enjoying the berries from the tree.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Planting a Mulberry Tree is a quick way to invite birds and other wildlife to your yard. Once the tree starts producing fruit, you&#8217;ll be delighted to see the many types of birds enjoying those juicy red berries. If you&#8217;re fortunate enough to have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisoldhouse.com\/gardening\/reviews\/everbearing-mulberry-trees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dwarf Weeping Mulberry<\/a> in your garden you can enjoy watching all the regular visitors to your Mulberry. While birds find the tree highly attractive, did you know that you too can <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gardenguides.com\/97809-prepare-mulberries.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">eat the fruit<\/a> from the Mulberry Tree?<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1377\" style=\"width: 471px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/tree4.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1377\" class=\" wp-image-1377\" src=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/tree4-831x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A Dwarf Everbearing Weeping Mulberry\" width=\"461\" height=\"568\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/tree4-831x1024.jpg 831w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/tree4-243x300.jpg 243w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/tree4-720x886.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/tree4.jpg 1350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1377\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Dwarf Everbearing Weeping Mulberry<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Morus_alba\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">White Mulberry<\/a> (<em>Morus Alba<\/em>) is the most common in Ontario, and can either be the Fruiting or Non-Fruiting variety. If you love birds and\/or the taste of the mulberry, then you&#8217;ll want the fruit bearing type (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.rhs.org.uk\/Plants\/46790\/Morus-alba-Pendula\/Details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Morus Alba Pendula<\/a>). However, make sure you plant it away from driveways and sidewalks as they can be quite messy with dropping berries as they mature.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1382\" style=\"width: 442px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/oriole.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1382\" class=\" wp-image-1382\" src=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/oriole-996x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Mulberries will attract many bird species, like this Oriole, but can prove to be messy.\" width=\"432\" height=\"444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/oriole-996x1024.jpg 996w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/oriole-292x300.jpg 292w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/oriole-720x739.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/oriole.jpg 1460w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1382\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mulberries will attract many bird species, like this Oriole.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The Non-Fruiting variety &nbsp;(<a href=\"http:\/\/www.missouribotanicalgarden.org\/PlantFinder\/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=e300\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Morus Alba Chaparral<\/a>) &nbsp;provides all the beauty and resilience of the other without the mess of the berries or the animals eating the berries. They work well in landscapes and still make great nesting areas for birds.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1369\" style=\"width: 442px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/chipmunk.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1369\" class=\" wp-image-1369 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/chipmunk.jpg\" alt=\"Even the chipmunks love the berries. \" width=\"432\" height=\"347\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/chipmunk.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/chipmunk-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/chipmunk-720x577.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1369\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Even the chipmunks love the berries.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The best part about these trees is that they are adaptable and very forgiving. &nbsp;A vigorous grower, the mulberry is a fairly disease-free plant that&#8217;s tolerant of clay soil. A good choice for the beginner gardener. Plant your weeping mulberry in well drained soil with full sun, or partial shade and you&#8217;ll find it is a hardy, easy-to-care-for tree that will produce mulberries every year right in to late summer.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1387\" style=\"width: 419px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/babyrobin3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1387\" class=\" wp-image-1387 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/babyrobin3-1024x940.jpg\" alt=\"Baby Robin anxious for the berries to ripen\" width=\"409\" height=\"374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/babyrobin3-1024x940.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/babyrobin3-300x275.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/babyrobin3-720x661.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 409px) 100vw, 409px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1387\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Baby Robin anxious for the berries to ripen<\/p><\/div>\n<p>There are many rules of thumb when it comes to trimming and pruning your mulberry. So we went to the experts at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sheridannurseries.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sheridan Nurseries<\/a>&nbsp;to get advice for growing these beautiful trees in our climate. &#8220;The Mulberry is an aggressive grower and should be trimmed,&#8221; says Brenda Luckhardt, Development Manager at Sheridan Nurseries. Whether you prefer the tidy or shaggy look, it&#8217;s best to keep the leaves from cascading onto the ground. &#8220;Give them a really hard pruning in April before the plant blooms, and then you can trim it as necessary&#8221; &nbsp;The mid-summer trimming will encourage new growth and shape the tree nicely.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1368\" style=\"width: 476px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/fullgrown.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1368\" class=\" wp-image-1368 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/fullgrown-1024x769.jpg\" alt=\"A full grown Mulberry before trimming\" width=\"466\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/fullgrown-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/fullgrown-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/fullgrown-720x541.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/fullgrown.jpg 1597w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1368\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A full grown Mulberry before trimming<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The key to pruning the weeping mulberry is to cut off any vertical or upward growing branches. &nbsp;Cut branches in a way that will help you achieve the shaping that you prefer. &nbsp;Rule of thumb? If it weeps, it works. It&#8217;s good to get underneath the treat and cut out any dead and\/or crossing branches.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/pruning.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1388\" src=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/pruning-1024x623.jpg\" alt=\"pruning\" width=\"720\" height=\"438\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/pruning-1024x623.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/pruning-300x182.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/pruning-720x438.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/pruning.jpg 1355w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A little bit of grooming and you&#8217;ve got yourself a beautiful tree perfect for bird watching. And if you can pick the berries before the birds get to them, here are <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.couragetocreate.com\/2009\/06\/slice-of-mulberry-pie.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tips on baking with mulberries<\/a> or you try out these &nbsp;tasty <a href=\"https:\/\/allnutritious.com\/mulberry-recipes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mulberry Fruit Recipes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5922\" style=\"width: 710px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5922\" class=\"wp-image-5922\" src=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/Mulberry-pie-1024x646.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"442\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/Mulberry-pie-1024x646.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/Mulberry-pie-300x189.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/Mulberry-pie-768x485.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/Mulberry-pie.jpg 1584w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-5922\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.notquitenigella.com\/2018\/10\/18\/mulberry-pie-pinot-noir\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NotQuiteNigella<\/a> has a berry special recipe for Mulberry and Pinot Noir pie<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Thanks to Lorna Jefferies for all of the beautiful bird photos you see in this blog. &nbsp;You can see more of her talented work <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/48224214@N02\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1386\" style=\"width: 730px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/waxwings.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1386\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1386\" src=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/waxwings-1024x533.jpg\" alt=\"Lovely shots of Waxwings in Lorna's Mulberry.\" width=\"720\" height=\"374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/waxwings-1024x533.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/waxwings-300x156.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/waxwings-720x375.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/waxwings.jpg 1355w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1386\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lovely shots of Waxwings in Lorna&#8217;s Mulberry.<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Planting a Mulberry Tree is a quick way to invite birds and other wildlife to your yard. Once the tree starts producing fruit, you&#8217;ll be delighted to see the many types of birds enjoying those juicy red berries.  I\u2019m fortunate enough to have a Dwarf Weeping Mulberry in my front garden and can <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/mulberry-tree\/\">READ MORE ><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1370,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,8],"tags":[207,174,614,29,206,205,52,576,89],"class_list":["post-1363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-garden","category-outdoor-living","tag-birds","tag-garden-tips","tag-gardening-tips","tag-landscape","tag-mulberries","tag-mulberry-tree","tag-pruning","tag-recipes","tag-summer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1363"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5923,"href":"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1363\/revisions\/5923"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1370"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.geranium.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}