Pruning Weeping Mulberry for Driveway Clearance

Maintaining a Weeping Mulberry Near Hardscape

A 15–20-year-old weeping mulberry, previously coppiced to the crown, has regrown vigorously. To keep the driveway side controlled without drastic re-coppicing, adopt a rotational thinning strategy.

Annual Thinning Rotation

1. Each year, remove approximately one-third of the oldest stems at their base.
2. In subsequent years, continue removing the oldest wood, maintaining a cycle where no stem exceeds three years old.
3. This preserves the weeping form while controlling density and spread.

Alternative: Biennial Coppicing

If the current two-year regrowth is satisfactory, cut the entire plant to the ground every other year in late winter. This ensures a fresh, manageable canopy each cycle and prevents driveway encroachment.

Key Assumption

These methods assume new growth is rigid and self-supporting, not floppy. If stems arch and obstruct, combine thinning with selective heading cuts to upright laterals.

Monitor annually; adjust intensity based on regrowth vigor and space constraints.