Well, ya know, them mulberry trees, they can be a real pain if ya don’t want the fruit. Sticky stuff everywhere, messin’ up the place. So, if you’re wonderin’ how to stop them from bearin’ fruit, I got some tricks for ya. Nothin’ fancy, but they work.
First thing first, mulberry trees love to give fruit late spring or early summer. Once they start, it’s hard to keep up with all the berries fallin’. If you planted one, it’ll take about a year or two before it starts producin’ fruit. But if you’re done with all that mess, here’s what you can do to stop ’em.
1. Use Some Chemical Spray
If you’re not too fussy ’bout chemicals, there’s somethin’ called Florel Fruit Eliminator. It’s got this stuff in it called ethephon, breaks down into ethylene, some plant hormone thingy. Now, I’m not too sure how all that works, but they say it stops the fruit from comin’. You gotta spray it when the tree’s bloomin’ though, and it’s gotta be the right temperature too, ’round 60 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise, it won’t do no good.
2. Prunin’ and Trimmin’
Another thing you can do is cut them roots or chop down the tree trunk if it’s really in your way. You can drill some holes in the trunk after you cut it, and pour in herbicide if you’re not too worried ’bout chemicals. If you’re like me and don’t want no chemicals, you can use milk instead. I heard milk helps them microbes in the soil do the job. After that, cover it up with some black plastic. Keep cuttin’ off any shoots that pop up till the roots give up and die off.
3. Bird Netting
If you ain’t ready to cut down the tree, another thing you can try is bird netting. Just drape it over the tree and tie it to the trunk. It keeps them birds away, and in turn, stops the tree from gettin’ all worked up with fruit. It’s a simple thing, but ya gotta make sure it’s secure, so the wind don’t blow it off.
4. Girdling the Tree
If you’re lookin’ for somethin’ a little less harsh than cuttin’ the roots or sprayin’, you can try girdlin’. It’s a bit like takin’ a ring of bark off the trunk. You make a little cut all ’round the tree, and that stops the nutrients from reachin’ the branches. Without that, the tree struggles to make fruit. But be careful, you don’t want to kill the whole tree unless that’s what you’re after.
5. Regular Prunin’
Sometimes, just givin’ the tree a good prune can slow down the fruitin’. Cut back them branches before spring hits, and you’ll reduce how much fruit comes out. It ain’t perfect, but if you’re doin’ it every year, it’ll help. Make sure you cut it back hard, though, not just a few twigs.
6. Consider the Tree’s Size
If you got a big ol’ tree, maybe it’s time to consider if you really need it. A smaller tree’s easier to manage, less fruit to clean up. You could trim it down or even replace it with somethin’ smaller or different, if all them berries are too much trouble.
Anyhow, if you’re tired of dealin’ with them mulberries all over your yard, these tricks should help ya. Ain’t no need to let the tree have its way when you don’t want the mess. Just take some time, follow these steps, and you’ll have that fruit problem handled.
Tags：[mulberry tree, stop fruiting, prevent fruit, tree pruning, Florel Fruit Eliminator, bird netting]
