Mulberry support?

[chad6159]

My mulberry has been growing a lot and in the beginning I had the main branches supported with bamboo poles(they would fall over if I didnt, plus I was training them to go a certain way). now instead of having just 4 main branches I have 10-15 probably, those for the most part are growing out and up as I want. But the ones that were supported are now way taller than the supports (which were 6 foot bamboo poles). So they are growing mainly vertically for 4 to 6 foot and then after the support they are growing completely horizontal. If I let it go will it eventually upright its self or is there something that I should do? I want to grow it as a bush by the way.

[roblack]

No, it is doubtful it will "upright itself."  Mulberry needs to be trimmed a lot to keep in check. It is kind of a weeping tree, at least the cultivars I know. So if it grows out, it will droop. This can be good for berry production, but so can trimming. It is a good idea to trim anything out of picking distance unless you want a large bushy tree.

[chad6159]

well since it is in picking reach, since it is drooping I'm not going to prune it just yet. Plus the branches are usually pretty easy to bend so even if they are tall (8 foot or so) you can still get to the fruit. But I don't want it to get any taller than that. I do want it to be bushy, but not out of control also. End goal would probably be something like 8 foot high and 5 or so feet wide.

[chad6159]

When is a good time to trim it back since the fruit grows on new growth? After the first harvest in the first half of the year?

[roblack]

After harvesting the berries would be a good time to prune. Cut it shorter than you want the plant to be, because it will grow up some when new shoots pop out.

[chad6159]

Perfect thank you. It is a pretty young tree, just put in the ground earlier this year, but the thing is taking off. As mulberries seem to do. It actually has fruit on it now. So looks like I should get two harvest off it a year, which will be nice.

[greenman62]

it depends on the type of mulberry (i think)
it appears to me, that if you prune them, they will fruit again
with most varieties ive tested anyway.
my Pakistani does, and even the "everbearing" fruits much more (several weeks) after a pruning.

[chad6159]

it depends on the type of mulberry (i think)
it appears to me, that if you prune them, they will fruit again
with most varieties ive tested anyway.
my Pakistani does, and even the "everbearing" fruits much more (several weeks) after a pruning.

I didn't even prune mine and it has fruit on it again (had fruit on it when I bought it a few months ago). I did put it in the ground after the fruit was harvested so maybe that stress made it fruit without having to prune. I was told it was a Pakistani mulberry, but Ive also been told it is a shangri la by someone that looked at the leaves. The fruit it not super long like from what I have seen from a pakistani, unless they only get that big after it is a few years old.

[greenman62]

both the Pak and the Shangri-La have oversized leaves.
i have both, but there is no way to tell them apart by the leaves.

There are several types of Pakistani  -  from my understanding anyway...
the more common has a light purple type fruit.
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71bDxoR5eIL._SL1000_.jpg

Shangri-La fruit are shorter and fatter. and the fruit get darker.
http://ediblelandscaping.com/products/trees/Mulberries/ShangriLaMulberry.php

this tall thing is my Pak.
it must have grown 12ft since April. (and i hacked it once taking off 3ft)
i had planned on keeping it low to get at the fruit
but, that might just be impossible... i will let it double as a shade tree
and shake it when its full of fruit.

[chad6159]

both the Pak and the Shangri-La have oversized leaves.
i have both, but there is no way to tell them apart by the leaves.

There are several types of Pakistani  -  from my understanding anyway...
the more common has a light purple type fruit.
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71bDxoR5eIL._SL1000_.jpg

Shangri-La fruit are shorter and fatter. and the fruit get darker.
http://ediblelandscaping.com/products/trees/Mulberries/ShangriLaMulberry.php

this tall thing is my Pak.
it must have grown 12ft since April. (and i hacked it once taking off 3ft)
i had planned on keeping it low to get at the fruit
but, that might just be impossible... i will let it double as a shade tree
and shake it when its full of fruit.

Thanks for the info. Ill have to post a pic of the fruit that is on it right now and see what you think it is. Its definitely not as long as the pakistani in the link you posted, but not as fat as the one in the other link haha. Ill get a picture of it tonight.

[chad6159]

Here are a couple of my mulberries. What do you think? They are from the same tree. The long skinnier looking one is probably half the size of the Pakistani in the link you sent