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The mulberry tree is a beautiful tree that is popular with summer residents of Our Country. There are several varieties of this tree. Weeping mulberry differs in size and shape of the crown. Outwardly, hanging branches resemble a weeping willow or willow.
Description of the weeping mulberry tree
Deciduous tree of the mulberry family. Not more than 3 m high. 17 species of mulberry tree are officially described, although there are more than 200 varieties of mulberry.
This is not only an ornamental plant, but also a fruit tree with tasty and fragrant berries. Compact size allows you to grow weeping mulberries even in a small area. The crown is up to 2 m wide. Weeping mulberry branches are long and able to grow to the ground.
The plant is a long-liver, can decorate the site for 200-500 years. The fruits are represented by a drupe hidden by a fleshy perianth. Fruit length – 2-5 cm. Color – pink, dark purple, white. The fruits are edible, sweet and sour with a pleasant aroma.
Weeping mulberry in the photo attracts with fruits. These are juicy berries with an unforgettable aroma and sweet taste. Weeping mulberry fruits are very healthy, contain vitamins and trace elements. Also the tree is suitable for decorative functions.
The mulberry sings by the middle of summer. In winter, after the tree leaves its leaves, the bend of the branches will please the eye and give the plant a special grace.
Varieties of weeping decorative mulberries
Weeping mulberry is a type of common mulberry that has several varieties. They differ in fruit color, size, ripening time.
The most popular variety is the weeping mulberry Black Baroness. This is a black variety of weeping mulberry with large fruits up to 4 cm. It easily tolerates frosts down to -30 ° C. Productivity – up to 100 kg per tree. Weeping mulberry Black Baroness has the most positive reviews about its unsurpassed taste.
White weeping mulberry is another species. It has heart-shaped leaves. The flowering period is May-June. The fruits are white, sweet, do not tolerate transportation.
For the most part, weeping mulberry has a lower yield than other varieties of mulberry. It is mainly used to decorate the site, it is planted more often near arbors, fences, and also as single plantings in the garden.
Planting and caring for weeping mulberries
Weeping mulberry on a bole is not demanding to care for. But there are points that should be considered when planting and cultivating a crop. Mulberry mulberry weeping for planting and care does not apply to capricious plants.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
Loamy and sandy soils are best suited for planting weeping mulberries. The site is chosen as lit as possible, with plenty of sunlight. Nearby there should be no tall trees and buildings that cast a shadow.
It is better to plant decorative mulberries on the southern slopes of the hills.
Mulberry grows poorly on saline soils, as well as in swampy areas. The seedling should not be exposed to cold winds.
Preparation of planting material
Weeping mulberry is propagated by cuttings. They are cut at the beginning of summer from this year’s growth. With proper planting and compliance with the rules of agricultural technology, such cuttings take root by the fall. It is important to plant them at an angle of 45 °.
If a seedling with a ready-made root system is purchased for planting, then when buying, you should pay attention to the condition of the roots. The roots of a young mulberry tree are weak. It is important that there are no sick and rotten specimens among them. It is optimal if the roots are not dry and packed in fertile soil. Then the weeping mulberry will quickly take root, and care will not be difficult.
Planting a weeping mulberry
It is recommended to plant a tree in the spring. But it is advisable to prepare a pit for planting in the fall. The recess in width and height is 50 cm. When digging, instead of an infertile layer, it is necessary to fill in a couple of buckets of compost or humus.
Put 50 g of urea, 100 g of superphosphate and 50 g of potassium into the pit. Mix with fertile soil.
When planting, the roots are carefully straightened. If planting is carried out in the southern regions, then the seedling is buried to the root collar. In the Northern regions, it is recommended to deepen the neck 5 cm below the soil level. The distance between seedlings should be 3 m.
Trees are watered immediately after planting. Each seedling is entitled to 2 buckets of water. Then, to preserve moisture, the root zone is mulched. This can be done with straw, peat, sawdust or foliage.
Watering and top dressing
Weeping mulberry is a very moisture-loving plant. Especially a lot of water is necessary for young plants. Immediately after planting, 2-3 buckets of water are poured onto the seedling.
Young trees are watered every 2 weeks. In too hot summer, watering becomes more frequent up to 1 time per week. The watering rate for a young mulberry tree is 20 liters. During the rainy season, watering the mulberry tree is not worth it.
At the end of September, it is necessary to carry out water-charging irrigation. To do this, 3 buckets of water are immediately poured under a young tree.
An adult plant requires less moisture. Weeping mulberry can also tolerate drought. Therefore, in hot weather, mulberry trees can be watered once every 2 weeks or even less often.
The young weeping mulberry tree does not need to be fed. Nutrient soil is enough for the first 2 years of life.
As they grow older, it is necessary to fertilize 2 times per season:
- The first top dressing is carried out in the spring, still on the lying snow. Urea is scattered on the snow layer at the rate of 50 g per square meter. Some gardeners use ammonium nitrate instead of urea.
- In mid-August, potassium and phosphorus are added. This will help to overwinter the mulberry and increase its frost resistance.
With such a feeding system, mulberries will look spectacular and give a decent harvest.
Protection against diseases and pests
Disease resistance in weeping mulberry is not observed. Therefore, it is imperative to carry out preventive treatment. The best time to do this is in April, before the buds open.
Professional insecticides and fungicides are used for processing. In October, a 3% solution of Bordeaux mixture is used.
Be sure to regularly carry out sanitary pruning to rid the plant of diseased shoots. It is they who become the source of infection of the entire mulberry tree.
Preparing weeping mulberry for wintering
Preparation for winter begins in mid-autumn. In a young mulberry tree, it is necessary to press the branches to the ground. If mulberry is grown in a region with severe winters, then the first few years you need to wrap the trunk with warm material. It is also better to cover the root system, and cover it with mulch on top.
In the southern regions, special preparation is not required, since the mulberry tolerates southern winters without difficulty.
Weeping mulberry yield per tree
The first harvest from the weeping mulberry, as in the photo, can be obtained only after 3 years. In the first year of harvest, the fruits will be small. There is no need to climb a tree when picking berries. It is enough to wait for ripening, then all the berries will fall to the ground. It is simply desirable to pre-lay any material, preferably polyethylene.
From one tree, depending on the variety, you can collect up to 100 kg of mulberry.
How to form a weeping mulberry
Mulberry pruning is carried out to form a crown, remove diseased shoots, and also to rejuvenate the entire tree.
For pruning, you need to prepare tools, including pruners and a hacksaw. All tools must be sharpened and of high quality.
For the formation, it is necessary to leave a trunk a meter high and cut off all the shoots at this distance. Such pruning is carried out in early spring before the buds open. The temperature should not fall below -10 °C.
Weeping mulberry is characterized by the same height and length of shoots. The central shoot during the formation of the crown is not isolated. It is necessary to cut the branches to the lower and lateral buds. This creates the desired bend, which is considered characteristic of this form.
Reproduction of weeping mulberry
Weeping mulberry is a dioecious plant, with both male and female flowers on the same tree. Mulberry propagation is possible in several ways:
- seeds – a long and laborious process;
- green cuttings – the most common method;
- layering and mother shoots;
- vaccination.
Each of the methods has its own nuances. By grafting on one tree, you can get a crop of different colors of berries. This gives the tree even more decorative effect.
How to graft a weeping mulberry
The easiest way to graft a mulberry tree is copulation. These are the same oblique cuts both on the scion and on the rootstock. With proper grafting, a clear mechanical fastening of the tissues between the cuttings is obtained.
Sections must be made between the kidneys. The place of attachment is wound with a soft polyethylene bandage.
Weeping mulberry reviews
Conclusion
Weeping mulberry is just one of the varieties of mulberry. Often used for decorative purposes. But it also gives enough tasty berries. Pruning the weeping mulberry in the spring will give it the necessary shape, and the length of the shoots adorns the tree to the ground. In care, the tree is not demanding, it tolerates even harsh winters.
