Planting a Mulberry

[Janco]

Anyone have any advise about Mulberries?
I was given a small plant in a pot last winter and I duly planted it in my outer garden which gets sun but is sheltered by a bank of trees. I took care with planting it, big hole, plenty of compost, blood fish and bone and then plenty of water. It did sprout but somewhat feebly and although I went out regularly hand picking slugs and snails, all the weak leaves disappeared and now it stands forlornly with no leaves. I think it has died.

I really want a mulberry. My son has a mature one and the fruits are lovely. I took some end of branch cuttings in late August and they are sitting in pots in a shady sheltered corner. Am I doing the right thing? Do they grow from cuttings? Anyone any other suggestions? I don't want to buy another with similar results.

[lainey lou]

HI Janco,
With regard to cuttings, my book says,
take a 12 inch cutting that has some older 2 year old wood at the base, plant the cutting so deeply that all but 2 or 3 buds are buried below ground.
Mulberries like deep moist soil in an open sunny spot.
Apparently they were originally grown for there leaves which improve silk worm silk!
Sorry thats all the info I have,
good luck
Lainey lou

[Janco]

Thanks for that Lainey Lou. Next time I visit my son I'll try your advice with cuttings. The ones I took are only about 6ins long so I'm not very hopeful but time will tell. They have lost all their leaves but buds still look OK. Fingers crossed!