Mulberry and Clover

Mulberry and clover work well together in low-maintenance orchard understory plantings. Mulberry develops deep, wide-ranging roots that access subsoil moisture and nutrients, while clover fixes atmospheric nitrogen at the surface level, gradually enriching the top few inches of soil where mulberry's feeder roots also operate. The net effect is reduced need for supplemental nitrogen fertilization.

Clover can be seeded directly beneath and around mulberry trees once the tree is established (generally after the first year). White clover (Trifolium repens) is the most practical choice: it tolerates partial shade as the canopy fills in, stays low enough not to compete aggressively, and reseeds reliably. Red clover grows taller and may require mowing to prevent it from shading out lower mulberry scaffold branches in young plantings.

This pairing is most useful in orchard settings where soil fertility is poor or where reducing fertilizer inputs is a priority. It is less useful in very wet or compacted soils, where clover establishment is inconsistent and root competition around the mulberry base may become a factor.