Elderberry bush care
Elderberry is an excellent choice for gardeners and beginners. The plant thrives without much interaction with gardener during the growing season. The shrubs do well in the wild, reaching enormous sizes in some parts of the country.
How to take care of elderberry bushes?
Elderberry trees grow abundantly in the wild and, depending on the variety, can be found along river banks throughout North America’s western and eastern parts. When growing elderberry bushes in gardens, they need a slightly different environment.
1. Light
Elderberries prefer full sunlight, which results in the most flowers and berries. However, partial shade is pleasing if you’re not expecting buds or fruit.
2. Soil
Elderberries are not very hardy but will do best in moist, well-drained soil that is moderately acidic. Elderberry plants will do well in clay soil, but only if it is well-drained. They need moisture, so they don’t do well in sandy soils, but they can only tolerate flooding for a few days at most.
3. Water
Give elderberry bushes 1 to 2 inches of water per week in the summer. The new shrub will need additional water because its roots are too shallow to reach the water from the deep in the soil for young plants; water is 2 inches per week in warm weather. Applying 2 to 3 inches of the mulch around the plants will help the soil retain moisture and act as a slow-release, organic fertilizer.
4. Temperature and Humidity
This mighty bush does not require the specific temperature or humidity level. However, this plant prefers to be so cooler than hot.
5. Fertilizer
Fertilizing the elderberry is not necessary when growing it. However, after its first year, you may want to fertilize it annually in early spring. Fertilizing elderberry bushes can be tricky; younger plants may need more nitrogen-rich fertilizer to stimulate growth, while older elderberry plants require much less nitrogen if they are vigorous producers. Always test a soil before applying fertilizer to ensure a nutrient deficiency in the ground that needs to be treated.
6. Pollination
Elderberries are usually wind-pollinated. However, gardeners can hand pollinate shrubs by planting at least two different cultivars no more than 20 feet apart.
You Need to Prune the Elderberry Plant
Most gardeners are not interested in pruning elderberry bushes. Some gardeners like to cut down the hardwoods that stem from the plant at the end of growing season to prevent the plant from pinching into the yard. However, pruning is unnecessary, and the Elderberry plant will do just fine without it.
Propagating Elderberry Plants
There are 03 common ways to take cuttings to propagate your Elderberry bush. Softwood, hardwood, and hardwood shoots are all suitable ways to propagate elderberry.
However, gardeners looking for the most straightforward method will likely benefit from cutting softwoods, requiring no rooting hormone or chemical additives.
