What Is Wrong With My Mulberry Tree?

Are the leaves small, discolored, and drop early, clusters of honey-colored mushrooms may sprout at the base of the plant?

Are there any small black, angular spots on leaves, and large brown spots on leaves, flowers and/or fruits?

Are there any blisters on leaves with surrounding tissue turning yellow, lesions on stems and twigs are raised, corky and dark brown to black with a water-soaked margin?

Are the leaves discolored and covered with honeydew, the whole plant look stunted?

Are there webbed nests in tree branches full of caterpillars?

Armillaria root rot is a fungal disease that cannot be effectively controlled once it has become established in an orchard. Diseased or dead plants should be uprooted and removed. Avoid stressing trees by providing adequate irrigation, fertilization, and insect control.

These symptoms indicate bacterial blight. The spread of the disease is greatest during humid, wet weather conditions. The copper spray will only reduce the spread of the disease. Avoid injuring the plant because bacteria enter through wounds.

Canker is a bacterial disease that can be serious in humid tropical and subtropical areas. It spreads rapidly over short distances. Control of the disease is reliant on timely sprays of copper fungicides and the provision of windbreaks to reduce the spread of inoculum from infected trees.

Yellow leaves and stunted look are caused by whiteflies. These tiny, mothlike flies and their larvae feed by sucking plant juices. Whiteflies secrete honeydew, a sugary substance that makes leaves sticky to the touch. Control whiteflies by eliminating garden weeds and by introducing green lacewings in the garden. Spray infested plants with insecticidal soap every 3 days for 2 weeks.

Tent caterpillars form canopies in the branches of mulberries and feed on leaves and stems, sometimes destroying whole trees in the process. They can be controlled by manually destroying their nests or egg cases, spraying leaves with BTK at the first sign of damage, or applying pyrethrin spray as a last resort.

If the leaves are covered by the sticky substances the culprits are scales. These tiny, shelled insects often feed on the undersides of the leaves, causing an unhealthy appearance. Scrape off minor infestations with your fingernail. Prune out badly infested growth, or use a soft brush and soapy water to gently scrub the scales off the stems. Control scales by spraying insecticidal oil during the growing season.