Managing Heavy Regrowth on Pollarded Mulberry Trees

Managing Heavy Regrowth on Pollarded Mulberry Trees

Repeated hard pruning of fruitless mulberry trees creates dense, heavy clumps at branch ends—classic pollard heads. Removing these clumps entirely leaves large wounds that heal slowly and invite disease, while regrowth often returns more vigorously.

Better Approach: Thinning Regrowth

Continue your annual pruning routine, but add a thinning step once new shoots emerge. Remove up to one-third of the new shoots to reduce weight and density. This maintains the tree's form without shocking it.

Timing Matters

In Phoenix, mulberries are deciduous. Prune heavily about a month before leaf drop in fall. This limits energy storage for next year's growth, slowing regrowth. Avoid pruning in late winter or early spring when sap flow is high.

Consistent, moderate thinning over several years yields a healthier, more manageable tree than drastic removal of pollard heads.