How to Prune Weeping Mulberry Trees

The fruitless weeping mulberry, or Morus alba "Chaparral," is a deciduous tree that is known for its long, leafy branches that hang down to the ground. Weeping mulberries can be grown either naturally or grafted using a branch that has been joined with roots. Overgrowth can create an unattractive tangle of branches that makes the tree top-heavy and increases its susceptibility to rain, ice or wind damage. After your weeping mulberry has grown to maturity, take the following steps to keep it properly pruned.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pruning shears

1. Find out if your weeping mulberry is natural or grafted. This will make a difference in pruning. Grafted weeping mulberries will have a visible graft union.

2. Prune the crown, or head, of your weeping mulberry. Use shears to trim any overgrowth that has begun to touch the ground. Move upward, pruning any branches that aren't weeping or that are rubbing against other branches. Make room between branches for air circulation; branches near the top should be 2 inches apart. Make sure the crown stays balanced around the tree.

3. Prune any lateral growth from the trunk. Use your fingers to nip new buds that begin to grow on the trunk. If your tree is grafted, do not prune below or at the graft union.

Tips & Warnings

• Because of the constant weight on weeping mulberries, staking the tree past maturity will allow it to support branch weight as the trunk grows larger. Weeping mulberries are easiest to prune when dormant. This allows you to work with the branches while avoiding interference from leaves.

References

• ZipcodeZoo.com: Morus alba "Chaparral" (fruitless weeping mulberry)
• Kansas State: Pruning weeping trees and shrubs