What can I make out of a Mulberry Tree?
Whenever I see a Mulberry tree, I recognize it immediately. The ubiquity of Mulberry trees sprawling tall and wide in yards and parks of my hometown is only matched by the countless memories I have rooted around those same trees. Just as these trees stand in my memories, the 17 or so mulberry trees I can see from my house stand sentinel in front yards. They are imposing with their stout, thick trunks covered in bark almost the same grey as the placid rain clouds that quench the tree’s thirst. Their roots run hard waves over the ground like petrified serpents before disappearing into sprawling tangles underground with the strength to raise sidewalks and cement pads; annoying, nonetheless impressive. Their long, strong branches reach out in nearly as much of a tangled mess of unabashed growth. These leaf-covered limbs reach out of backyards as they stretch to break the sightline above the rooves. You can see how they sway by the movement of the large green serrated leaves that cover them. Leaves that bow to the wind in a not entirely, but almost, synchronized sway. These modestly great trees have definitely taken root in my memories.
How Long Do Mulberry Trees Live?
Most of my family and friends have some childhood stories or memories revolving around one of these large shade trees. There are several species of mulberry trees, of which the white, red, and black are most popular for cultivation and landscaping. Depending on the species, mulberry trees can live in nature for 75 to more than 100 years. When used for landscaping, their lifespan is typically reduced to 25 to 50 years due to improper care and exposure to diseases and insects (Doyle, 2020). This significant lifespan is enough for these trees to watch a family grow around them, creating memories of climbing the tree or having family picnics under their protecting branches. Imagine the stories those ancient mulberry trees could tell.
How Tall, Wide, and Fast Do Mulberry Trees Grow?
Mulberry trees can grow up to 10-12 feet over six years while maturing. Over their lifespan, mulberry trees can grow up to an impressive 80 feet tall while spreading out just as wide (Doyle, 2020). Due to their quick growth, the potentially high yield of Mulberries, and the shade their limbs and leaves provide, Mulberry trees emerged as popular landscaping trees. They were naturalized in my hometown and throughout North America (Engels, 2022). This makes sitting under a mulberry tree a great spot to relax and get a break from the sun after a long day of yard work anywhere.
Where do Mulberry Trees Grow Best?
Mulberry trees are sizeable deciduous shade trees that can dominate a yard when fully grown. Mulberry trees are hardy and can grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 4 through 8. Though they grow best in full sun, they can also thrive in partial shade with a decrease in their mulberry production. They can grow in various soils, though they prefer moist, well-drained soil (Doyle, 2020).
Placing Mulberry trees away from important structures is recommended as their roots grow long, wide, and deep. They can destroy utility lines, septic tanks, and electric cables. They can also buckle sidewalks and cause cracks to form in the cement it runs under.
Mulberry trees also produce small blackberry-sized brightly colored fruits. These fruit juice can stain clothes, garden furniture fabric, and even cement. Take this into consideration when deciding where to place a mulberry tree.
How to Care for a Mulberry Tree?
Caring for established trees is simple and only requires minimal attention and effort. Once established, Mulberry trees are fairly drought tolerant. Fertilization once a year can keep them growing healthy (Grant). Their rapid growth, large shade, and ease of maintenance led to the widespread planting of mulberry trees, which is why they stand prominent in many stories. Stories of climbing their thick branches, falling from their heights, chowing down on the berries, or throwing them at each other, and simply enjoying the shade the tree provided on a sunny day absent of clouds. The care we give these trees is only replayed to us, with each branch providing share or the trunk serving as a backrest when you need a break.
How to Prune a Mulberry Tree
As they are relatively low maintenance, Mulberry trees typically require little pruning. Most pruning is done to remove dead branches or cut back branches growing near other trees or structures. As these trees produce sap, pruning should remain light and can be done in the winter when they are dormant, and sap bleeding will be reduced (This Old House Reviews Team, 2022).
What Insects or Diseases can Mulberry Trees Get?
Mulberry trees produce small fruits similar to blackberries which fall from the tree as they mature. As the fruit ripens on the tree, they attract birds that will snack on the fruit. White mulberry tree leaves are a preferred food for silkworms (Engles, 2022).
What are the Negatives of a Mulberry Tree?
The prolific growth of the mulberry tree has resulted in it being considered an invasive tree. The fruits produced by mulberry trees can be numerous and attract birds. Children, pets, and birds enjoy snacking on these fruits, which tend to stain clothes, yard furniture, and cement. Their roots also interact with that same stained cement. As the roots grow strong and sprawl out away from the mulberry tree, they have been observed to push up sidewalks and cause cracks in concrete.
The once rampant popularity of the mulberry tree ended up being its downfall. In some states, mulberry trees are illegal to plant, and there have been bans against planting mulberry in place for decades. This is due to the amount of pollen they produce, which can aggravate allergies and, in some instances, potentially trigger severe allergic reactions (Prokop, 2022).
This means that these once sprawling mulberry trees are declining in some states, like the one I live in. However, this does not change the great memories cultivated around these trees. My memories involve climbing and playing in the large mulberry tree in my grandfather’s yard.
What is the Availability and Cost of Mulberry Lumber?
Mulberry wood is not typically harvested commercially for lumber, limiting its commercial availability. Expect prices for Mulberry hardwood to be high. If you are looking for mulberry lumber, you can contact us at [email protected] to inquire about the current availability of our lumber stock.
What Does Mulberry Lumber Look Like?
When sliced into wood rounds, the heartwood gives a rich brown color, with the sapwood giving a much lighter yellowish color. This provides a contrast that is only enhanced through proper finishes. The color contrast is fantastic, resulting in beautiful wood for creating beautiful pieces of custom-crafted woodworked materials.
What is Mulberry Lumber Used for?
Mulberry wood is a good wood for smaller woodworking projects. It is typically used commercially for fence posts, wood turning, or furniture-making. Though it is not commonly commercially available. It is considered a hardwood having a Janka hardness of 7,470 N. White oak has a Janka hardness of 5,990 N for reference (Meier).
The density of mulberry wood allows it to burn longer than other woods. It is said to be comparable to Pear and Applewood, making it an excellent choice for firewood or smoking meats. It produces a sweet-smelling smoke while giving a tangy, sweet berry flavor to smoked meats. It is recommended to smoke poultry, pork, and beef (Yirka, 2019).
Is a Mulberry Tree Good for a Family Home?
In my personal experience, the mulberry tree in my grandparent’s yard provided a lot of branches to climb or shade. My grandfather made a swing for us as children (which I still have in line to be refurbished) that hangs from a branch of the mulberry tree. All my cousins and I must have swung from that mulberry branch-supported swing. I have clear memories of spending hours up in that tree with just my brothers and our imaginations. We would play games to see who could climb the highest or to see who could walk out further on the longest branch. It is definitely an excellent tree for climbing.
It provides a lot of shade as well. Family gatherings at my grandparents’ house always happened underneath that tree. However, in states where the trees are illegal to plant, the creation of these family memories around a mulberry tree is happenings less and less.
As these trees enter their twilight years and decline, let’s not mourn their fading or watch them go uncommented. These trees gave us thrilling memories of seeing who could reach the highest branch. The daring memories of who could go out farthest on the thinnest branch. Harrowing memories of falling through the air from one of the branches and crashing onto the hard ground that was softened only the slightest bit by the thin grass that grew under the tree. The conspiratorial memories as my siblings and I promised not to tell our parents of the fall so we could keep climbing the tree. The simple yet pleasant memories of picking our favorite spots and sitting there with my brothers for hours with just our imaginations. We can honor these memories by properly caring for these trees as they decline and using their wood to make something beautiful.
What Can I Make Out of a Mulberry Tree?
I have cut down several mulberry trees and have harvested their lumber to make custom one-of-a-kind woodwork pieces of functional art. You can purchase some of my rough-cut Mulberry Wood by emailing us at [email protected]. Or send us a message to request a free consultation and quote for commissioned pieces from our Mulberry wood or the wood in your yard.
Check out the items I have made from Mulberry trees below, and get ideas for your future woodworking projects.
2717 Mulberry Wood Collection
The modestly great mulberry tree that grew in my grandparent’s backyard is in some of my most profound rooted memories. I remember the tree much like I view the family in the picture my father took above. My family. Happy and carefree enough to sway with the wind, supported sufficiently to grow in any way, solid enough to always be. Look at all the items I’ve made from this Mulberry tree that comprise the 2717 collection to ensure the 2717 Mulberry tree will always be. Read more about the functional art or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok to see what we are working on.
1414 Mulberry Wood Collection
As is typical with many long-forgotten trees, they grow unnoticed in parking lots and between buildings. They stand sentinel, growing and still providing shade. They add a splash of color between the greys and reddish browns typical of most structures. They remain a fixture of the unnoticed background, enriching the view of the urban scape from the periphery.
We can relieve them of their sentinel duties as they grow and age. We can give them rest from the pounding heat from the sun above, doubled as it is reflected off the asphalt below. Let us instead make them into something beautiful.
Look at all the items I’ve made from the 1414 Mulberry tree that comprise the 1414 Mulberry collection. See how I took one of these trees, grown dead in a parking lot, and gave it a second life as a beautiful piece of functional art. Their duty is now to add warmth inside a home. Read more about the functional art or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok to see what we are working on.
