Classic mistake. Should I dig up my mulberry?

Having successfully planted a few fruit trees, I have now made the classic mistake of planting my white mulberry too deep. The hole was extra deep to accommodate an old hen who had passed, but I then didn't take that into account when planting. I usually plant a little higher than I want the tree, to account for the soil and compost sinking, but I didn't factor in the much deeper hole, and the tree is 5-10cm deeper than it should be.

The leaves came out in the last couple of weeks, and I noticed the sinking then, but didn't have time to deal with it. Do I dig up the tree now? Or wait until winter? It was bare rooted with a very small root ball. Planted end of December.

I really hope I don't lose the tree as it was a Christmas present.

Is it a seedling or it's grafted?
If it's grafted, have you buried the graft union?
If you did, I would dig the tree delicately and lift it so the union is exposed. and you will know if the suckers (plenty in mulberry) are from the scion or rootstock and you will be able to remove them.
If the tree is young, make sure you don't damage roots. If it's older, it will handle rather with no issues.
Mulberries are strong (even for my extreme sun and arid conditions) and you are located in delicate and wet climate so even if you damage some roots, there will be enough moisture and not enough sun to destroy it.

Cristobal Cristo wrote:Is it a seedling or it's grafted?
If it's grafted, have you buried the graft union?

Thanks. I'm not sure if it was grafted or not, but as it was a named variety I assume it was a graft or cutting.

Mulberries are pretty forgiving honestly. I'd just carefully lift it now while it's still young and the soil is workable. Five to ten cm isn't catastrophic but it's worth fixing before the roots really establish at that depth. I've moved a young plum that was planted too deep and it barely noticed, just watered it in well after and it carried on like nothing happened.

Thanks for the advice. I have gently dug it up and replanted it higher. I'll baby it for a while, and hopefully it does well.