I may be ordering a Black Beauty Mulberry Tree. It is the smallest species of the tree. Is that species okay and do I need to plant it where he (leopard) can't get to the berries that fall?
Tom said:Jaqcui, with birds comes bird doo doo. How do you like trying to wash those purple schmeres off of everything?
Will said:You might look to see and differentiate between species a varieties. White and red mulberry are but a few of the 'about 12 to 15' species. And there are several varieties "cultivars" of some of these species. Not all are male and female on separate trees. For the most part you are looking for leaf production, not so much the fruit?
They can be grown in a bi-lateral cordon fashion (like grape vines, but without the need for a trellis). Whole short branches can be harvested and inverted while green (the leaves not the branch) to dry for later use, while preserving a large proportion of the nutrients.
You can force it to grow low to the ground by always pruning to the last down pointing node (opposite of what would be done normally) and then the tortoises can feed themselves directly from the tree.
To get the best tips look to silkworm farming web pages, for them it's all about the leaves.
I have used mulberry for virtually every herbivorous reptile I have kept, often it being well over half the diet. Reproduction, and growth have been excellent.
Will
lynnedit said:Coastal silkworms periodically sells the dwarf mulberry trees (seaonal). I believe they are fruitless. Pruning works too!
Will said:one thing about mulberry, it has got to be the most forgiving tree when it comes to pruning, that is you can do a poor job and the tree will bounce back. 'poor job' is not even a best way to put it, you can prune them to whatever purpose or lack of purpose you have, they are very resilient. it is a close to a 'miracle' plant as you can get, for plant eating animals. I would suggest, this spring try some of the tender leaves near a growing tip to see for yourself, it tastes good.
will
Tom said:Will I get more leaf growth with some pruning, vs. leaving it alone?