Landscaping Under Thirsty Mulberry Trees in Southern Utah

Two massive fruitless mulberries create dense shade and suck all soil moisture. Nothing grows. The long-term fix: replace the trees. Short-term: stabilize soil and plant tough survivors.

Best Move: Remove & Replace

Mulberries are water hogs. Switch to low-water shade trees:

• Chilean mesquite (Prosopis chilensis) – fast, filtered shade, 30×30 ft.
• Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) – flowers, 25×15 ft.
• Palo verde (Cercidium spp.) – green bark, yellow flowers.
• Ironwood (Olneya tesota) – slow but tough.

If You Keep the Mulberries

1. Lay erosion-control blankets (biodegradable, stapled) to stop dust.
2. Install a sand fence (like snow fence) to trap blowing soil.
3. Plant from the arid-region lists below through the blankets.

Plants That Tolerate Dry Shade & Root Competition

Perennials: Salvia, Penstemon, Echinacea, Gaillardia, Artemisia, Lavender, Yucca
Groundcovers: Dalea greggii, Lantana montevidensis, Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus', Sedum spp.
Shrubs: Leucophyllum (Texas sage), Atriplex (saltbush), Fallugia paradoxa (Apache plume), Rhus microphylla (littleleaf sumac)

Design with Rock

Use gravel mulch (conserves water, stays put). Build dry streambeds or rock gardens to reduce planting area. Harvest roof runoff in basins.

Mulberries won't change. Adapt the landscape—or replace them.