Dwarf Mulberry Tree (forum)

Novice gardener starts with ...
I planted a dwarf Mulberry tree in about September last year and it was doing very well growing striaght up with dark shiny green leaves. In the last month or so all but the top leaves and the bottom leaves have fallen off.

Two questions:

1) do these trees have just a single trunk? and

2) should I be loosing the leaves this early?

Look forward to hearing words of wisdom.

Novice gardener

Time: 6th April 2010 8:35pm

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About the Author Novice gardener
Melbourne
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BJ says...
Hi Novice ... I'm a novice too ... but have climbed many a mulberry tree (and eaten eaten many mulberries)! (I was going to say "in my youth" ... but I am still an avid mulberry pincher where the plants are on public land beside creeks and such)
Firstly - The trees may branch close to the ground, especially if they are grown from seed near a creek bend, but most cuttings and nursery brought trees have a single trunk. If you've got a second 'trunk' coming up from below the ground get rid of it as best you can ... a single trunk is easier to manage.
Secondly - It is getting colder in Melbourne now so I wonder if your micro-climate may be encouraging leaf drop. Have a good look at the leaves that are falling off; do they look sick (i.e. the colour is very different between the veins and the leaf)? If you're worried post a photo - smarter people than me will be able to assit!

Time: 7th April 2010 5:53pm

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About the Author BJ11
WA
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Gabbie says...
Hi Novice

You should check out the dwarf mulberry video that Daleys have http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBfGbJZQNYI
Dwarf trees have a few branches as they are not a traditional one trunk tree but they are versitile so you can trim them how you want it to look
I have seen a few that are espaliered which look great
The leaves of my dwarf mulberry are starting to change colour and a couple have fallen off due to the changing weather but if you are worried take a leaf into you local nursery or post it online

Good Luck

Time: 9th April 2010 10:31am

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About the Author Gabbie
Grafton, NSW
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Db says...
Hi all, sorry to revive this old thread but I'm facing similar issue with my dwarf mulberry from Daleys. Its currently growing in a pot since last couple of months and it was growing very fast till recently, it has even put on 5 mulberries which r still bit small but now tree is stopped growing, leaves from bottom getting sick and getting dropped, tip of the branches getting dried so no new growth except main stem. Is it the time of the year when they stop growing and prepare to go in sleep?

Time: 3rd April 2012 7:28am

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Db says...
Anyone?

Time: 3rd April 2012 5:11pm

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MaryT says...
Db Mulberries are deciduous so yours may well be getting ready for winter. It is autumn. If you have other concerns why not post a photo?

Time: 3rd April 2012 6:02pm

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About the Author MaryT
Sydney
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Nick says...
Mine stopped actively growing about a month or so ago and it's buds have been slowly fattening, the leaves should be dropping around now anyway :)

Time: 3rd April 2012 7:30pm

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About the Author Nick T
Altona, VIC
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Db says...
Thanks MaryT and Nick.. no worries then, what a relief :)

Time: 3rd April 2012 8:31pm

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Db says...
Actually same thing is happening with some of my other trees as well. Leaves of my white Adriatic fig are now becoming yellowish in colour, some leaves even getting brown and getting dropped, growth is stopped.. My Acerola cherry has stopped growing. Leaves of Panama Berry (which is supposed to be evergreen) are getting yellow and getting dropped every day. Will it be again due to bit colder nights that we are having here in Brisbane now a days?

Time: 4th April 2012 8:03am

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Linton says...
Leaves on Dwarf Black Mulberry turning yellow and tree fell over!

The Dwarf Black Mulberry from Daleys grew quickly for the first few months and reached about two and a half metres high. Is planted in a very large pot in high quality potting mix.

Now the leaves have become mottled with yellow like chlorosis and the tree fell over sideways onto the ground. No idea what's causing all this. It seems to be quite a sick plant and the species appears to be difficult to grow.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 23rd November 2015 8:28pm

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About the Author Linton
Springvale, Vic
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Luke :) says...
An old thread, but; I bought my Dwarf Black Mullbery around the time of this thread.
I think I have the same problem as the above post.
Is it a disease or a virus, Mosaic virus maybe?
I will spray copper on the emerging shoots and see if the leaves return to normal growth in the coming weeks.


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Time: 7th October 2017 9:45pm

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DOB says...
Have moved from middle coastal nsw to Sth East qld. Purchased dwarf mulberry and it remained in a pot (repotted once). Shortly after the move it produced immature fruit then the leaves started dropping and drying out at the tips. I repotted again using premium organic compost soil and increased watering due to the warmer climate. The leaves stopped dropping but they are browning at the tips. My first sense is either over watering or root problem. I read the article linked above but wondered if others have had same.

Time: 26th January 2018 11:37am

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About the Author DOB
Park Ridge
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Fruitylicious1 says...
Hi DOB

There are a few reasons why mulberry tree's leaves start browning out from the tips. It's indicative of a stressed out tree.

Here are some of the reasons why. Maybe one of these answers will enlighten you about your mulberry predicament:

1. Insufficient irrigation: sometimes even watering our plants profusely still they continue to shrivel and wilt. The reason being the soil has become water repellent already. The drink just passed through the soil without saturating it. Do a soil finger test to check all around soil moisture. Solution: If your tree is in a pot, dunk the pot in a bigger container full of H2O. Let all the bubbles come out. Sit the pot inside the container for at least half an hour. I experienced this with my Hawaiian guava. After an hour the tree appeared fresh as a daisy as if nothing happened.

2. The roots might be damaged during transplant. When the root is damaged there is not enough root to take up water hence the stress. You can prune back the plant to reduce its water needs while the roots recovers if you suspect that this is the case.

3. High salt content in the soil. It may come from the water that you supply for the plant or you might have over fertilize it. We all know that chemical fertilizer contains a lot of salt. If this is the cause reduce the amount and frequency of fertilizer and increase watering to wash away the residual salt in the potting mix. But if you live near a source of salt water it is difficult to correct this problem.

4. Another possibility is sunburn. We are now at the height of summer. If your plant is situated in the hottest part of your garden change the location to an easterly spot to avoid the hot scorching afternoon sun. If you can't move it erect a shade cloth to protect the plant from sun scald.

5. Worth mentioning also is the roots are constricted because they have overgrown the container. Replant to a bigger pot and water regularly. I think you have already addressed this issue.

6. Acclimatization - Plants like humans hate change. Moving from one different environment to another will certainly cause stress to the gardener and his green charges. But over time they become acclimatized to the new ambience and be able to move on for the better.

Though this problem might cause you concern your plant will surely recover from the slump once you have ascertain the cause.

As Always....Happy Gardening :-)

Time: 27th January 2018 5:47pm

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Original Post was last edited: 27th January 2018 6:28pm

About the Author Fruitylicious1
TAMWORTH,2340,NSW
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DOB says...
Thanks Fruity.....stress was the one thing that sticks out. I had thought it might be stredd due to the move but then forgot. All of the reasons you give have been addressed where applicable. Now I just have to wait. Soil is always moist. I repotted and moved it under cover. It gets morning sun. I had intended to place it in ground on the eastern fence but will rethink and place it on the west side fence. Thanks for your detailed reply.

Time: 28th January 2018 4:59pm

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About the Author DOB
Park Ridge
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Kerry says...
Recently I moved my young dwarf mulberry to ground that had a lot of clay and it was very unhappy. The new leaves all curled around the edges and it looked very sad. So I moved it to a new place with a bit more sun and prepared the bed well with good soil. Within three weeks all the old leaves had gone and it had quadrupled its leaves with beautifully formed new ones. I picked off the flowers as they formed so as to encourage the leaf growth. It has survived the hot Brisbane summer well with lots of water. As someone said, this plant is a survivor.


Time: 1st March 2019 2:37pm

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Original Post was last edited: 1st March 2019 2:38pm
About the Author KERRY13
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ADL says...
Hi Luke, did spraying copper on the mulberry work in your case?


Time: 12th May 2021 6:41am

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About the Author ADL
Campbell 9500 CA United States
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