How to Plant Mulberries in Clay Soil in Arizona

Select a suitable planting location for your mulberry tree in your garden or home landscape. Look for a full sun planting location that receives six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day. Choose a location at least 15 feet in diameter to provide your mulberry tree with the space it needs to grow to maturity.

Clear your selected planting location of any existing vegetation including grass, weeds or other plants. Dig up the roots of the weeds and plants you are removing to prevent them from growing back and diverting essential moisture and nutrients from your mulberry tree.

Amend the heavy clay soil at your planting location to improve drainage and make the soil more hospitable for your mulberry tree. Spread a 3 inch layer of aged manure over your entire planting location. Top the aged manure with 1 inch of perlite and 1 inch of coarse builder's sand. Work the amendments into the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches until evenly distributed. Water the planting location thoroughly and wait for the water to sink into the soil.

Dig a planting hole for your mulberry tree that is twice as wide as the tree's root ball, but shallow enough to allow the tree to be planted at the same level it was planted in its nursery container. Scarify the sides of the planting hole with a hand rake to make it easier for your tree to form a strong root system in its new location.

Center your mulberry tree in its prepared planting hole. Add just enough of the displaced soil to cover the roots of the tree. Add water to the hole to help settle the soil and eliminate any air bubbles. Wait for the water to be absorbed and then use the displaced soil to fill the hole the rest of the way. Tamp down the surface of the soil with your hands and water again.