Planting a Dwarf Everbearing Mulberry Tree

Dreaming of harvesting sweet berries right from your backyard? Planting a dwarf everbearing mulberry tree is one of the easiest ways to start growing fruit at home. After over 30 years as a small farm owner who maintains an orchard, I was eager to add a dwarf everbearing tree to our fruit tree collection. In this guide to planting dwarf everbearing mulberry trees, you’ll discover helpful growing tips, learn how to plant mulberry trees successfully, and see why many gardeners consider this the best mulberry tree for small spaces. Even better, the mulberry tree fruit is edible, delicious, and surprisingly easy to produce when you know how to grow mulberries at home. Read on for all you need to know about adding a dwarf everbearing mulberry tree to your yard, garden, or orchard landscape.

Why I Wanted to Grow a Mulberry Tree

Growing a dwarf everbearing mulberry tree is a great option for gardeners who want abundant fresh fruit without needing a large space. This compact variety stays much smaller than traditional mulberry trees, making it ideal for small yards or containers, yet it still produces generous harvests of sweet berries over a long season from late spring through summer. It seemed like the perfect fit for the space I had in mind in our small orchard. Like most mulberry trees, it is hardy, adaptable to many soil types, and relatively low-maintenance once established. In addition to providing delicious berries for fresh eating, baking, or preserves, the tree also adds beauty to the garden and attracts birds and beneficial wildlife. Since I love to make jam and baked goods from our blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, I wanted to add another berry to the mix for some unique recipes.

Choosing a Dwarf Everbearing Mulberry Tree

Start by choosing a healthy dwarf everbearing mulberry tree and selecting the right location in your yard. I got mine from a family-owned nursery based in North Florida called MyPerfectPlants.com nursery. Mulberry trees thrive in full sun, so pick a spot that receives at least six to eight hours of sunlight each day. Make sure the area has well-draining soil and enough space for the tree to grow comfortably, even though dwarf varieties stay much smaller than standard mulberry trees. The dwarf everbearing mulberry tree (Morus nigra) I chose has a mature width of 6 to 8 feet and a mature height of 6-10 feet. All plants from this nursery come with a 30-day warranty and ship within 2 to 3 days of ordering.

When the 6-foot-long box arrived, we placed it on its side in our garage. When I opened it, I found the tree had been very well packaged in a 3-gallon container securely attached to the box with zip ties. To keep the tree roots moist, there was a plastic bag fastened around the pot. Clear instructions were printed on the outside of the bag. 

Preparing the Soil

Before planting, prepare the soil by loosening it in a wide area where the tree will grow. Remove grass, weeds, and large rocks so the roots won’t have to compete for nutrients. Mixing compost or well-aged organic matter into the soil helps improve fertility and drainage, giving the young tree a healthy start. You could amend the soil with a special fruit tree planting mix if you like. I used a mix of bagged compost and aged manure. You can get both in one bag if that makes things simpler for you. 

Digging the Hole

Next, dig a hole that is about twice as wide as the tree’s root ball but no deeper than the root ball itself. This allows the roots to spread outward easily while keeping the tree planted at the correct depth. Gently remove the tree from its container and loosen any tightly bound roots so they can grow outward into the surrounding soil. Sometimes the roots are difficult to loosen, and you don’t want to damage the roots, so just do your best. 

Placing the Tree

Place the tree in the center of the hole, making sure the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding ground. When I planted our tree, I had at first dug the hole a bit too deep, so I had to fill in some soil and compost mixture until the top of the root ball was even with the top of the soil.

Backfill the hole with the original soil, gently pressing it down as you go to remove air pockets. Water the soil thoroughly after planting so it settles around the roots and provides immediate moisture. Since it was raining when I planted our tree, it got watered in quite well.

Mulching Around the Base and Keeping Chickens Away

After planting, add a layer of mulch around the base of the tree to help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. Spread the mulch a few inches thick in a circle around the tree but keep it a couple of inches away from the trunk to prevent rot.

If you have chickens roaming where you plant your tree, as we do, placing some big rocks around the base will prevent the chickens from pecking at the soil and creating holes. Our chickens are fond of taking dust baths near the bases of our apple trees in the summer. I didn’t want holes in the soil around our newly planted tree, and as you can see, the chicken in this photo is already curious about the new addition to the orchard. Stay tuned for another post about keeping chickens away from the mulberries!

Watering the Tree

Finally, water the tree regularly during its first growing season while the roots become established. Consistent moisture encourages healthy growth and fruit production. In our USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8b garden, we usually don’t need to worry about watering until the summer. Most years, the spring rains are sufficient. As I was planting the tree, the rain was coming down. It was a good opportunity to put my rainy weather gardening gear to good use.

Uses for Mulberries

With proper care, a dwarf everbearing mulberry tree will begin producing sweet berries and can provide harvests for many years to come. I hope to be able to harvest some mulberries later this year. I look forward to adding mulberries to smoothies, making jam, scones, pies, cobblers, fruit crisps, and many other delicious dishes. I can dry them in our food dehydrator or freeze some for use later. So many possibilities!

Need More Planting Ideas?

Check out the tips for the best companion plants for apple trees to learn what to grow with those beauties. If you like the idea of companion planting, you might be interested in reading about the best companion plants for pumpkins, sunflowers, garlic, asparagus, rosemary, radishes, dill, beetroot (beets), thyme, parsley, lupine, stevia, peonies, or the best companion plants for lavender. Get tips for growing stunning dahlias. Are you a beginning gardener? Try planting some foolproof, easy-care perennials, or learning about the best companion plants for columbine. There are so many exciting plants and trees to grow!

Keep Track of Your Garden with a Journal Logbook

Now that you have learned about some compatible companion plants, keep track of your planting ideas, goals, and plans with a printable, editable free garden journal logbook. Choose the pages you want to use and customize them as you wish to record monthly, weekly, and daily garden tasks, lists, weather, and planting arrangements. There are also grid pages for easily designing the layout of your vegetable garden, flower garden, or landscape. Print it out and put it into a notebook you can take with you to the garden (that’s what I do). It’s nice to have all of your garden information in one place.

Get the garden journal logbook!

Free Online Garden Planner Layout Template

Now that you know which are the best companion plants for apple trees, you might need a way to plan your garden layout. Whether you are planting vegetables, flowers, or herbs near your lupine plants, this online garden planner can help you visualize your design and bring it to life. Arrange and rearrange the plants over and over, then print the layout when you are satisfied. With garden tasks that need your attention, this is one way to save time.

Get my free online garden layout planner template!

Have a wonderful week, and may all of your apple tree-growing endeavors meet with success!

Lisa Mitchell is a wife, mom, and school librarian who likes to grow fruit, herbs, vegetables, and flowers on her family’s small Pacific Northwest farm. To learn more about what this website has to offer gardeners, click on over to the Garden page.