How to Grow Weeping Mulberry Trees
Also known as a white mulberry, the weeping mulberry tree (Morus alba) is a deciduous tree that grows to heights between 10 and 15 feet, with an equal spread at maturity. The weeping mulberry grows in any type of well-drained soil. The branches of the weeping mulberry tree sweep dramatically downward, giving way to pointed green leaves that turn yellow in autumn. A prolific fruiter, the weeping mulberry grows from seeds sown in moist soil. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Plastic bag
- Damp peat moss
- Refrigerator
- Seed starter tray with clear plastic lid
- Sterile potting soil
- Weeping mulberry seeds
- Spray bottle
- 6-inch pots
- Plant heating pad
Instructions
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1
Fill a plastic bag with damp peat moss and drop the weeping mulberry tree seeds into the plastic bag. Seal the plastic bag and place it in the refrigerator for three months.
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2
Fill a seed starter tray with sterile potting soil. Remove the plastic bag from the refrigerator after the chilling period and press two to three weeping mulberry seeds ¼ inch into the soil of each cell.
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3
Cover the seed starter tray with its clear plastic lid. Lift the lid periodically to check the soil for moisture. Mist the soil with water from a spray bottle whenever necessary.
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4
Set the seed starter tray in an area that receives indirect sunlight. Maintain a temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit during germination, which usually takes between 9 and 14 days.
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5
Remove the lid from the seed starter tray as soon as the weeping mulberry seeds sprout. Continue to maintain moist soil, warmth and indirect sunlight as the seedlings grow.
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6
Transplant the weeping mulberry seedlings into individual 6-inch pots when they develop their second set of leaves. Plant the weeping mulberry seedlings outdoors when they reach 12 inches in height.
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Tips & Warnings
Purchase weeping mulberry seeds from a garden center or online nursery.
Slip a plant heating pad under the seed starter tray if maintaining 75 degree Fahrenheit temperatures is impossible.
Do not saturate the soil during germination. A light misting is all that is necessary. Standing water will rot the seeds and prevent germination.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit mulberry image by Henryk Olszewski from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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My boss has grown weeping mulberries for 30 something years and says while the species NAME is Morus Alba, meaning white, Morus Alba as a species can produce white or black fruit. In the case of the grafted Weeping Morus Alba, the variety he's familiar with has a black fruit. Still has yet to find a weeping mulberry with white fruit.
