Question
Dear Kathy,
Thank you so much for the quick reply re bark peeling off my fruitless mulberry.  I live in Las Vegas NV and the raim fall is so minimal that it is hard to put together a scenario where standing water is causing root rot. You could nail me for not watering enough. Can you think of another reason? The rest of the tree look healthy--green with no dead branches.  Thank you so much.  Billi

Answer
Hi Billi,  Fungus causes problems with mulberrys.  I spray mine with Atomic Grow and it keeps the fungus off of them.  You may see white on the bark or bumps which is a sign for fungus.  Atomic Grow raises the brix in the plant to make it healthy so bugs stay away bugs like sick plants.

 Sooty canker disease is a fungus-borne pathogen that affects mulberry trees in humid climates. Sooty canker disease, caused by the fungus Hendersonula toruloidea, infects tree wounds and cracks in humid climates with temperatures ranging from 91 to 97 degrees F. Symptoms of sooty canker disease include wilted leaves, bark peel, a black mass of spores in infected areas, cankers and dieback in tree branches.

According to the University of Arizona Department of Plant Pathology website, the disease is best controlled by reducing pruning and cleaning pruning tools with 20 percent bleach solution. Tree sunburn is a common way that sooty canker infects trees, therefore, it is important to reduce pruning of branches that provide shade. Prune infected areas, dispose of the pruned branches, and use a fungicide to prevent further infection.

I am from Fl so we have a different type of climate so I had some time to do a little more research and I think the sooty canker is your answer. Of which I rec-comment stil the Atomic Grow to make your tree healthy again.. kathy