Cleaning your clippers is especially important if you have more than one mulberry tree. Unclean clippers can transfer diseases between the trees and unintentionally infect trees that were previously disease free.
If you are cutting a smaller branch, such as one under 1 inch (2. 5 cm) in diameter, you can use simple pruning shears.
When cutting off a small dead area, cut the piece back to the closest part of the branch that is still alive. This is usually where there is a growth split in the branch or all the way back to the trunk.
Be sure to keep the sap of the tree off of your skin, as it can be irritating to some people. [4] X Research source
Wait to prune your mulberry until about a month after it has lost all of its leaves. This will ensure that the tree is actually dormant. [6] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U. K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source Mulberry trees have a tendency to bleed sap from areas where they are trimmed. This is less likely for cuts made during winter but may still occur.
While it’s a good general idea to wait for winter to trim your mulberry, dead branches should be removed as soon as they are identified. Just be aware that the cut may bleed sap for weeks or even months, which is common with mulberry trees. [8] X Research source
To ensure that you can harvest the fruit easily, you should control how tall the tree gets. This will allow you easy access to the fruit that develops in the tree’s canopy. It will also minimize the chance of birds getting to the fruit before you are able to harvest them. If you do trim your tree, start with the bottom third of the tree and work your way up.
Look for shoots that are spaced close together on branches. Eliminate one so that the other can thrive. Cut off any branches that make the tree look unattractive or unkempt. For example, trim off branches that grow out of the trunk below the main mass of branches. [9] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U. K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source
Do summer trimming in the first half of the summer. If you do it later in the season you may trim off fruit buds that are emerging. Summer trimming is more likely to encourage sap seeping from the cuts. Take this into consideration when deciding whether a tree needs a summer trim. [10] X Research source
Whether you want a full and large shade tree or a productive fruit tree, you should trim off dead or damaged branches as soon as possible. Don’t trim off the main branches on your tree unless they’re diseased or dying.
