Blue Elderberry (Sambucus nigra caerulea) and Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa) are summer-blooming native shrubs which are cold-hardy in United States Department of Agriculture planting zones 3 through 9 or Sun Set planting zones 1-4 through 17. The fruits of the large, fast growing shrubs are an important wildlife food supply. When incorporating elderberries that are indigenous plant them in wildlife gardens or big shrub borders. The decorative cultivars like Black Beauty, with blackish- Plumosa Aurea, or purple foliage, with foliage, may be utilized in foundation plantings and smaller combined landscape beds.
Prune elderberry shrubs that are indigenous yearly through the dormant period to sustain an appropriate form, dimension and branch density for the bed area. Without yearly pruning, elderberries form huge colonies and create a coarse look.
Check the shrubs for dead, damaged or diseased branches. Remove these branches with by-pass hand pruners. Where required to form and decrease size of shrub shorten wholesome stems.
To the floor, reduce back a third of the oldest stems with bypass loppers. Stems that are older have greater diameters and coarser bark. Repeat this procedure yearly to rejuvenate your shrubs.
Elderberries multiply and form colonies by root suckers that are under-ground. Prune suckers that are undesirable to the floor anytime throughout the year.
To keep little decorative cultivars and compact, handle them. Cut them back near to the floor each year throughout the dormant period. Prune greater ornamentals utilizing the same methods employed for elderberries that are indigenous.
Clean the the equipment carefully between pruning careers to stop the spread of illnesses. Also clear before storing to avoid rust.