Mulberry trees are deciduous plants native to both temperate and subtropical regions in Asia, Europe and the Americas. They produce edible berries that are dark in coloration with a sweet flavor prized in culinary pursuits. Mulberry trees can grow up to 30 feet in height and produce small, white inconspicuous flowers. They can be easily grown in most climates around the world, and require only basic care to thrive.
Plant mulberry tree saplings during early spring just after the final frost of the year. Choose a planting location that receives six to eight hours of full sunlight and has fertile, well-drained soil.
Dig a hole of equal depth and twice as wide as the root ball of the mulberry tree sapling. Place the sapling into the hole and refill with soil. Water thoroughly to collapse any air pockets in the soil.
Water mulberry trees once per week, but only on weeks that receive no rainfall. Dump one 5-gallon bucket of water over the roots for each application. Reduce the frequency of watering to once every two weeks during winter.
Feed mulberry trees twice per year using a balanced 10-10-10 NPK fertilizer, once in early spring and again in late summer. Water the tree both before and after fertilizing to prevent root burn from the influx of nitrogen. Apply 1 lb. of fertilizer for every 1 inch of the tree trunk's diameter.
Use pruning shears to cut away any dead or dying branches to encourage the mulberry tree to focus on developing foliage and fruit. Cut them off as close to the base of the tree as possible. Harvest mulberries by spreading a sheet out under the tree after the berries have formed. Collect the fallen berries from the sheet as available.