Question
3 years ago we planted a young Fruitless Mulberry Tree.  We planted it in the center of our backyard.  The yard is covered in grass and is in full sun.  Summers here are hot, winters mild.  When we planted the tree it was about 6 feet tall and had about 5 branches.  Since we planted it it has barely grown at all.  It's now about 7 feet tall and still has the same 5 branches.  The tree seems very healthy. The leaves are full and green even in November.   The branches are all bunched together and are growing straight up, not branching out. (no pun intended!)  We are not getting any shade from the tree and it doesn't seem like we're going to be getting any any time soon.  
Should we prune the tree all the way back? (we haven't done anything to the tree since we planted it.  We have watered it, of course).  Should we take the tree out and get something else?  Any information you can give me would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you so much.
Sandy

Answer
I would not recommend pruning this tree now. Hardwood trees have the tendency to grow a root system before they put on very much height growth. This sounds like what is going on here. I would fertilize the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb of fertilizer per inch of trunk diameter scattered around the tree and watered in good. Apply the fertilizer just before a rain storm and you will not need to water it in. Make sure you do not use a lawn fertilizer called Weed and Feed--this contains a herbicide that will damage or kill trees.

Fertilize now and again in the spring. The limbs will start to spread out as it grows. I would leave it and apply the fertilize to jump start the growth. If you have not done so I would also mulch around the tree with an organic mulch. Apply it in a circle around the tree out to about 2 feet and not more than 3 inches deep and not piled up on the trunk. This will help hold moisture around the roots and promote growth.