Dwarf shahtoot rotting (forum)

prjgibbo starts with ...
A dwarf red shahtoot I purchased in 2009 has been growing well and producing lots of sweet fruit but over the last few months has split just at the graft site about 5cm above soil level. One branch has rotted off and another looks like it is going to split off, see picture. Should I give up on the tree and just plant another or is there something I can do.

thanks,

Peter
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 12th February 2014 6:03pm

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About the Author prjgibbo
Wentworthville
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sternus1 says...
What I would do is saw off the the half that is the worst looking, and prop the good half up with some sort of strut. Alternatively, you could cut the worse looking section of and tar this over to stop it from shooting, cut the better half off above ground level also and let this send out shoots, which will grow straight. Or do it to both halves. I guarantee it will send out new growth. They are not an easy tree to kill, and I doubt you could kill one by taking an axe to it; you'd have to poison for a certain death. Definitely worth a shot considering how advanced it is.I've never seen a grafted mulberry--are you sure it is grafted?
s

Time: 12th February 2014 6:22pm

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Original Post was last edited: 12th February 2014 6:20pm

About the Author sternus1
Australia
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gimme says...
A lot of nurseries graft shahtoots onto Morus alba. I would saw that tree back hard towards the end of its dormant phase (around August) and try to keep the best looking side like sternus says.

Time: 12th February 2014 8:59pm

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About the Author gimme
Brisbane, Qld
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Mike Tr says...
There is no reason to graft dwarf mulberries or dwarf shahtoots as cuttings go so well.In my climate both get pretty big but can be maintained at 3m with heavy pruning.My shahtoot lasted 8 years after being chopped off at the base and even following all the roots.Applying tree and blackberry killer helped a bit but suckers from the roots still come up now.

Time: 13th February 2014 8:14am

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About the Author Mike Tr
Cairns
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gimme says...
Does anyone have Morus macroura? The real species that gets larger fruit and is a larger tree?

Time: 13th February 2014 9:59am

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About the Author gimme
Brisbane, Qld
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prjgibbo says...
Thanks everyone. The tree is a red shahtoot grafted onto dwarfing rootstock. The graft site is the site of the problem and I think its is probably irredeemable as the bark is disrupted and cracking all the way round the trunk. I will try and take cuttings from the tree and then dig it out and start again I think.

Time: 9th March 2014 5:26pm

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About the Author prjgibbo
Wentworthville
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