I would say I have to agree. My 5 year old Noir de Spain is on the same level as my telephone pole next to the street, and I currently dig up roots 15 feet away. One way of doing it though, would be to turn over the soil in a trench along the house every year (since I love mulberries I think this is worth it!) If you planted tulips in the trench, you would be forced to do it when lifting your tulips every year and replanting them in the fall.

Carla in Sac

Yikes, 30 feet! I am beginning to see why they are not more popular around here, even in this "ideal" mediterranean climate.

Next question: would a dwarf mulberry have shorter roots--maybe a weeping mulberry between 6 and 8 feet tall?

If I wanted to plant a mulberry where I was fearful of the damage caused by the root system, I'd keep it pruned small, either by training it to a weep or with relentless stubbing of new wood. Mulberries fruit young on this years wood so they can be controlled with some summer pruning. You have to be relentless, however.

Root issues such as these are as linked to soil type as they are to species. In my soil the vigorous mulberry roots stay down.

thanks Harvestman, it's good to know there is hope as long as I am determined and with a sharp pair of loppers. So pruning the top stops the root spread, hmmm. My soil is basically a clay, like most around here I suppose. Maybe that will help..?

Now to get a better pair of loppers!

You could probably keep a weeping mulberry in a wine barrel which would also solve your worries, and it would look better too. (weeping mulberries don't exactly weep, like willows do, because the branches are stiif and they don't move. They look more like a rangy bush, so elevated in a wine barrel would be prettier)

Carla in Sac

Actually, clay encourages shallow rooting if we are talking heavy clay and not the more benign clay loam I love.

Thanks Carla, I may try that:)

Hi, I have a 17 years old melburry tree in my backyard it's 29' away. Is that OK or should I take it off to avoid home structure problems. Also I have a back yard drain pipe nearby the tree. Any advice please. Thanks

I'm not a home expert on foundations.
However, I will say mulberry mainly is a problem for cracked pipes, because they are water seeking. Not generally known for huge roots lifting sidewalks or buildings.

What if i have a dwarf mulberry tree? How far should I plant it away from my house?

Dwarf as in Geraldi? That only gets around six feet you can plant as a shrub next to your house. Not aware of any other dwarfs