Garden Care Guide

Red Mulberry Care

Morus rubra

A fast-growing, deciduous tree of North American origin, grown for its sweet-tart dark purple fruits. It prefers full sun and moist, rich, well-drained soils, but is quite adaptable. It is also a valuable species as a shade tree.

Hardy · -25 °C / -13 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Pruning: Main pruning time. Remove dry, diseased and crossing branches so the tree forms a sound framework and the crown gets air.
  • Plant protection: Bordeaux mixture or dormant oil (mineral oil) can be applied for overwintering pests.
  • General care: Remove pruning debris from the garden.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the trunk and branches for scale insects (Coccoidea) and other overwintering pests.
February
  • Pruning: While dormant, remove dry, broken, crossing and inward-growing branches so that air and light reach the inside of the crown. During dormancy, remove only dead and broken branches; heavy pruning is not needed. Formative pruning that encourages branch forking is done while the tree is young.
  • Plant protection: Before the buds wake up, Bordeaux mixture or a copper-based fungicide can be applied.
  • General care: The site can be prepared for planting new seedlings.
March
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: Well-rotted farmyard manure or compound NPK (e.g., 15-15-15), applied to the soil, 100-200 g per tree depending on the age of the tree; do not overapply.
  • General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Flowering begins.
  • Pests & diseases: Control aphids (Aphidoidea) on young shoots.
  • Frost risk: Young shoots may be affected by severe late frosts.
April
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Plant protection: Not needed; apply only if pests are seen.
  • General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: Monitor for leaf spot diseases and bacterial blight in humid weather.
May
  • Watering: 40-50 L/m² per week; watering is important for fruit development.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: The fruits begin to color. Measures such as netting can be taken against birds.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves.
June
  • Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Main harvest period. Harvest fruit as it ripens. Clear up fallen fruit to prevent pests and diseases.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves. Check the undersides of the leaves for whitefly clusters. A yellow sticky trap is the easiest way to monitor density.
July
  • Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
  • Pruning: After harvest, remove broken or diseased branches only if really necessary.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Harvest generally continues this month as well.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the undersides of the leaves for whitefly clusters. A yellow sticky trap is the easiest way to monitor density.
August
  • Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: The tree is completing its summer growth.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the undersides of the leaves for whitefly clusters. A yellow sticky trap is the easiest way to monitor density.
September
  • Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
  • Pruning: Not recommended.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Propagation by semi-hardwood cuttings can be tried.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves.
October
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Plant protection: Bordeaux mixture can be applied after leaf fall.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: Remove fallen fruit and leaves to control fungal diseases such as popcorn disease (Ciboria carunculoides).
November
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting. Collect fallen leaves; many disease agents and pests overwinter under them.
December
  • Pruning: Once the tree is fully dormant, you can begin winter pruning toward the end of the month.
  • General care: Full dormancy period.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

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