Landscaping, Shade Trees and Shrubs

Weeping Mulberry

Many of us that plant shrubs and trees, anything that will take the heat of summers and the cold of winters. While that is the main consideration, there are others like leaf color, growth habit, fruit, and so on. A weeping mulberry is a good example of growth habit and form.

Weeping Mulberry Tree
Weeping Mulberry Tree

Take my weeping white mulberry tree. The variety is “Chaparral” which is a male cultivar making this tree fruitless. Planting a weeping tree does make a statement. The Chaparral grows up to fifteen feet with branches coming to the ground. Once established it is drought tolerant. Also, mulberries have no pest or disease problem, and deer leave them alone.

This variety comes from the white mulberry tree, which is native to Asia, however, is naturized in this country. It is the food for the silkworm and was why it was imported to the United States. The silkworm industry was short-lived, and the tree was grown for shade and fruit. The two other mulberries are black and red which are native to Europe and North America.

Mulberries have male and female trees, and it takes two of these trees to produce fruit on the female tree. Many people find the fruit very messy in the landscape, which is why you want to look at getting a male variety.

One note, the weeping mulberry tree is very slow in leafing out waiting till the end of May.

Landscaping, Shade Trees and Shrubs

Weeping Trees and Shrubs

Landscaping with weeping trees and shrubs should always be considered. Since they will attract the attention of the viewer, they should be planted in the background with other plants around them.

The picture of the full-grown weeping willow next to a pond always comes to mind. Just do not forget the many different evergreens and deciduous trees and shrubs you can use in your back or front yard. Cultivars range from a foot tall to over 60 feet with different textures, colors, and shapes.

For instance, a weeping river birch in the center of the backyard surrounded with yellow foliage barberries and perennials brings out the peach-colored bark since this tree does not cast a lot of shade. For willows try hostas which will take more shade.

If you want the tree to be the focal point, just create a rock garden around the trunk. Fewer weeds! A weeping tree always reminds me of water, so you can place a little garden fountain or pond next to it. Maybe add a bench underneath as a place to unwind after a hard day.

Landscaping, Landscaping decor

Putting in a Rock Garden

Putting in a rock garden is fairly easy especially after the first few steps. The garden can be as big or small as you want and be placed anywhere in the landscape where you want it. Maybe in a dull corner of the yard.

First, take a hose and use it as an outline of what you want the outer edge of the rock garden to look like. The till or spade the grass or weeds under (you can use a Roundup type of herbicide to kill the plants before tilling up). Place good soil on top giving the rock garden an elevation to it, maybe a few inches. There is a layering method by placing old newspaper on the ground before adding soil to smother the grass.

You can also lay down landscape fabric after mounding with soil to keep the weed seeds from growing or making them easy to pull out. Just cut an X in the fabric to plant your desirable plants.

Now for the rocks, feel free to be creative with the texture and color of the stones. Make sure you have enough to cover the area. This is where a rock specimen like rose quartz or a stone-looking fountain adds interest drawing your attention toward the area.

Now add your plants. Tough low growing perennials like creeping phlox or sedums do well in these areas. Keep away from annuals that need planting every year.