Content
Mulberry is a fairly frequent visitor to the gardens of southern Russia. This tree produces good harvests of berries year after year, often without any care. Despite this, many gardeners prefer to prune mulberries. And this is absolutely justified. Mulberry pruning is a very useful activity that allows you to beautifully shape the tree, increase its yield and avoid many diseases.
Why is mulberry pruning necessary?
Mulberry trees are grown not only for harvest. They are very decorative, especially varieties with a weeping crown, so gardeners often decorate their summer cottages or local areas with them. And also the greens of the mulberry tree are used as a feed crop for the silkworm. For any of these purposes, pruning will be useful. It helps maintain the crown in a healthy state and allows you to correctly shape the tree in a certain way so that it is convenient to work with it in the future.
Pruning gives a powerful impetus to the development of new shoots, enhances lateral branching and the growth of green mass. As a result, the crown is denser, and the tree synthesizes more nutrients through photosynthesis. Timely cutting of old, diseased and damaged branches significantly improves the health of the tree, prevents diseases from developing, and reduces the number of pests. All these measures improve the decorative appearance of the mulberry and also increase its productivity.
Features of pruning different types of mulberries
Methods for pruning a mulberry tree depend on its purpose. If it is planted to obtain a harvest of berries, it is formed as a fruit plant, laying several fruit-bearing tiers. A tree planted for decorative purposes is pruned in accordance with its chosen crown shape, maintaining its type and dimensions. Industrial trees, the foliage of which serves as food for silkworm caterpillars, are pruned so that branching and the amount of green mass are maximized.
Types of pruning
There are several types of mulberry pruning. All of them are carried out to perform specific tasks and differ from each other. There are the following types of mulberry pruning:
- sanitary;
- rejuvenating;
- formative;
- decorative
Formative
Formative pruning is carried out in the first few years after planting a mulberry seedling. During this period, the mulberry is characterized by intensive growth; at this time, the foundation of the tree is laid and its skeleton is formed. Mulberries are planted not only to produce berries. It is often used in landscape design, as well as for technical purposes, as a food source for silkworm breeding. Depending on this, the mulberry is formed:
- Fruit tree.
- Decorative tree on a standard with a spherical crown.
- With a broom.
- A tree with a weeping crown.
- Custom.
The method of forming the mulberry crown also depends on the region in which the tree grows. The bush-like form is more winter-hardy, so this method is widely used in cold regions. Some mulberry varieties are distinguished by long annual shoots, and therefore have a predisposition to form a tree with a weeping crown.
Rejuvenating
Over time, mulberry yields can decrease significantly. It can be restored with the help of anti-aging pruning. This procedure is usually carried out over several years. During this time, the old wood is gradually removed, and new shoots are grown in its place, to which fruiting is transferred. At the same time, dried and broken branches, as well as diseased and pest-affected branches, are removed. Remove shoots that thicken and grow deeper into the crown, vertical tops and competitors. The interior space of the crown is brightened.
Sanitary
Sanitary pruning of mulberries should be carried out annually at least 2 times per season. This is early spring, when the tree has not yet entered the growing season, as well as autumn, the time after the end of leaf fall. During sanitary pruning, broken, dried and damaged branches are removed and the tree trunk is cleaned. Shoots that show signs of disease are also removed.
How to prune a mulberry tree correctly
To prune a mulberry tree correctly and not cause irreparable damage to the tree, you must follow certain rules:
- Trees can only be pruned at certain times of the year.
- For pruning, you must use only high-quality, well-sharpened and disinfected tools.Cuts left with sharp edges heal much better and faster.
- The older the trees, the more severe pruning can be done. Young trees must be pruned carefully, otherwise this may lead to their death.
- Green, non-lignified shoots can be broken off with your hands or their tops pinched, thereby stopping their growth if they are unnecessary or grow abnormally.
- When removing shoots “on a ring” or when pruning on a promising bud or shoot, it is necessary to follow the correct technique.
How to prune mulberries in spring
Spring pruning of mulberries is done when the threat of severe frosts is completely absent, otherwise the pruned shoots are guaranteed to freeze. This procedure can be started only after the air temperature has stabilized above - 10 °C. In the southern regions, mulberries can be pruned in early March, in more northern regions - in April. The exact time of spring pruning is chosen taking into account the climate of the region. It is important to have time to do this procedure before the start of sap flow, then the rehabilitation period for the mulberry will be minimal.
Mulberry pruning in spring includes all main types of work. At this time, the tree is sanitized, the crown of the young mulberry is formed, and work is also carried out to rejuvenate old plants.
How to prune a mulberry tree in summer
The scheme for summer mulberry pruning is very simple. As a rule, no major work is carried out at this time. The only exception is pruning decorative mulberries, the crown of which needs to be maintained in constant shape. At this time, only young growth that exceeds the dimensions is trimmed. At this time, you can limit the growth of green, non-lignified shoots if you plan to remove them in the future.To do this, simply pinch off their top with a fingernail. This measure allows the plant to direct nutrients to the growth and ripening of berries, and not to excessive shoot formation.
How to prune mulberries correctly in the fall
In autumn, mulberry pruning is usually carried out only for sanitary purposes. The tree is inspected and, if necessary, damaged and dried branches are cut out. Particular attention should be paid to the crown if the appearance of diseases or pests was noted on it during the season. Branches affected by fungus or other pathologies are removed, after which they must be collected and burned.
Mulberry formation by year
There are several schemes for formative pruning of mulberries in spring. Depending on the purpose of planting, the crown of the tree can be formed as follows.
- Crown of a fruit tree. In the first year, the seedling is cut to a height of 1 m. All other shoots are completely removed. In the second year of life, you need to select 3-5 of the strongest from the regrown side shoots, extending from the central conductor at an angle of 45 ° or more, located at a height of 0.7 m from the ground and above. All other shoots must be removed. The central conductor is cut off, leaving 4-5 buds on it above the upper lateral branch. The lower skeletal branches are cut to a length of 0.3 m, the upper ones must be shortened even further. In the third year, the tree is considered mature.
- Ball-shaped decorative crown. It is formed on a bare trunk at a height of 1-1.5 m. The central conductor is cut at a height of 2-4 m, depending on need. Side shoots are trimmed by 1/3 in the upper and lower parts of the crown and by ¼ in the middle. The main thing is that the crown is uniform in circumference and resembles a ball.
- Decorative "broom". Very beautiful crown type.First, you need to completely clear the trunk of side shoots to a level of 1-1.5 m from the ground. Then you need to select 3-5 strong lateral shoots that have a large angle of departure and are located at approximately the same height from the ground. The rest need to be removed. Selected branches are cut off by 4 buds. The conductor must be cut flush with the upper skeletal branch.
- “Weeping” crown. To form such a crown, it is necessary to grow the tree in a trunk to a height of 1.5 m. Each of the shoots growing higher is cut to 4-5 buds, which should be directed outward. Every next spring, all growing annual shoots are also pruned to 5-6 buds facing outward.
- This order is maintained until the crown is completely formed.
- Bush. Forming mulberry bushes is used in areas with unfavorable weather conditions. To form a crown of this type, it is necessary in the first year of the seedling’s life to select 3-5 strong lateral shoots extending from the trunk at a height of 0.15-0.4 m. They are cut to 4-5 buds, all other branches are removed. The central conductor is cut at the height of the upper skeletal branch.
- In the second year, the procedure must be repeated, selecting 3-4 more shoots. Last year's shoots are cut off by 1/3. In the third year, the bush should consist of 6-8 equivalent trunks. Weak side shoots and improperly growing branches must be cut into rings.
After the crown is formed in the required way, it is maintained in the required dimensions by pruning and thinning out the annual growth.
How to form mulberries in the Moscow region
The Moscow region is an atypical area for planting and growing mulberries.Its natural growth area is located south of the Kursk and Voronezh regions. However, it is quite possible to grow mulberries in the Moscow region and even further north. To do this, choose white mulberry varieties, such as White Staromoskovskaya, Admiralskaya or White Honey. Their winter hardiness is higher than that of red and black varieties. When planting, location is very important. It should be open and sunny, but at the same time well protected from the north and east winds.
The best results when growing mulberry in the Moscow region are obtained by forming it in the form of a low (up to 1.5 m) bush on a very short stem. This form makes it possible to bend the shoots to the ground and cover them for the winter. Sanitary cleaning is carried out in this region at the end of April or at the beginning of May, after removing the winter shelter. Autumn pruning of mulberries in the Moscow region, as a rule, is not done so as not to weaken its winter hardiness.
Caring for the plant after pruning
Mulberry does not require special care; it is a very unpretentious plant. After pruning, it is advisable to only feed the plant a little. In the spring, this can be done by adding rotted manure, humus, as well as a complex nitrogen-containing fertilizer, for example, nitroammophoska, to the root zone. After autumn pruning, you can add a little superphosphate to the soil. Nitrogen fertilizers are not applied at this time of year.
Cut branches should be collected and burned, especially after sanitary pruning. They can harbor fungal spores, pathogens and insect pests. After this, the tree trunks must be whitened. This measure will prevent excessive heating and cracking of the tree bark under the bright spring sun.Whitewashing is also a good preventative against insect pests and their larvae that overwinter in cracks and folds of the bark.
Conclusion
Mulberry pruning is a fairly simple procedure that even a beginner can do. However, you need to start it only after studying the theoretical part. And for beginners it is better to use the help of more experienced colleagues for the first time.
