AusBonsai

Hi Everyone
This Mullberry tree has a little history I thought might be of interest.
As a big old mulberry I played on as a child was being cut down I took some branch cuttings.
One little tree that grew I planted on public land near the old tree so other kids could have the same
fun picking mulberries before or after class and one day climbing it when big enough.
After leaving the tree to grow for several years my local council decided in their wisdom that it was a
pest species and included it in their land clearing for that year.
By chance I walked my dog in the area a couple of days later and found my mulberry ripped out on a pile of
other weeds and rubbish. Would have been there all weekend when I found it but I took it back home and put
it into a tub of plain potting mix and Took time but a year or so later it through out a shoot.
That was about 12 years ago. Two months back I put it into its first bonsai pot and it rewarded me with its first
crop of leaves that are less than half the size of the ground grown tree.
I'm well aware that most serious bonsai growers wouldn't bother with this variety, at least that's the feedback I
was given. Quote; don't bother their weeds/ leaves too big/get a fig or privet instead, etc, etc.
Anyhow its been fun so far and it's bonsai journey has just begun.
cheers

grow box with all the scaring done by backhoe or bobcat machine
With time its better than any die grinder or dermal can carve so I leave it alone

2 months in bonsai training pot and a crop of mulberries
Wood is as soft as my bougies and wisterias so I hope it stays upright when it rots completely
With luck it should get better in time. At least branch selection has not been an issue. It shoots from
the trunk all over the place when cut back hard but not often where I would like it.
The bonsai pot is approx. 60CM X 40CM
That's all so far

Great recovery Rob. Looks very healthy. I have a Mulberry in my backyard that I am air layering to see if I can get a bonsai starter. Like most bonsai nuts I guess I look at turning anything into a bonsai for fun. Will post some pics when and if I have success. Good luck with yours.

What a greatt save and even better story!
What a lovely trunk Have you tried Earls wood hardener on it? that should stop the rot


Ken

Thanks for sharing the story and the photos robb. As you say, you are getting good leaf size reduction. I am also trying mulberry as bonsai, just because.

I also love the story behind the tree and the tree itself. I am growing one as well just to see how it behaves. Only a couple of years old so much growing to do.

Well done on saving this one! I have a mulberry that I'm growing on, it was so full of fruit! (til the wind and rain started...)

There's someone at my club who brought one in to a meeting, it looked pretty good! Leaves were quite small, and it also had fruit!

Cheers All, stoked you found Mulberry interesting
Hi Ken, yes I tried Earls wood hardener. Actually I tried it on my bougainvillea and wisteria too.
Over a few seasons much the same results though. Wood on outside lasts OK but the inside still
rots away. However it does take longer.
My wisteria is keeping it's shape/trunk with no heart wood left at all
Hopefully the mulberry will do the same. Anyhow I'm kind of partial to letting mother nature do her thing.
It requires less effort from me and looks OK. IMO.
cheers

Thanks for posting. Please keep us updated on the progress. I'd like to get one in the future!