Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is a fast-growing shrub or small tree, prized for its beautiful blossoms and nutritious berries. Pruning is essential for maintaining its health, encouraging fruit production, and shaping the plant. This guide will help you understand when and how to prune elderberry for optimal growth and yield.
When is the Best Time to Prune Elderberry?
The ideal time for pruning elderberry is in late autumn, after the berries have been harvested. Typically, this occurs around October. However, you can also prune elderberry between late January and early March while the plant is still dormant. Pruning during this time minimizes stress on the plant and allows it to focus on new growth in spring.
Steps for Proper Elderberry Pruning
Pruning elderberry involves removing old, dead wood and shaping the plant to promote strong, healthy growth for the upcoming season. Here are some steps and tips to guide you through the process:
- Remove Old Wood: Elderberry produces fruit on one-year-old wood, so it’s essential to cut back older, unproductive branches. When pruning, remove any wood that is older than two years. These branches will have a rough, cracked bark and a larger diameter. Younger, one-year-old branches, with their smooth, light-gray bark, should be left intact to allow for new growth.
- Maintenance Pruning (Thinning and Rejuvenating): In autumn, cut back the spent flowering and fruiting branches—those that bore fruit in the previous season. This will help ensure vigorous flowering and berry production in the future. Keep 10-12 healthy, strong, one-year-old shoots, as these will bear flowers and fruit the next season. These should be located near the base of the plant to ensure even nutrient distribution.
- Formative Pruning: If you want to shape your elderberry, consider whether you want to maintain its natural shrub-like form or train it into a tree. For a well-shaped shrub, maintain the tallest central stem and prune the surrounding branches to form a slight cone shape.
Shaping Elderberry into a Tree
Elderberry can also be trained into a small tree, or “high trunk,” which is space-saving and aesthetically pleasing. Here’s how to shape your elderberry into a tree:
- Choose the Right Leader: Select a strong, straight stem to become the central trunk. Support it with a stake or wooden post to ensure it grows upright.
- Trim the Top: Cut the top of the stem slightly to encourage growth below. You should leave about five dormant buds on the stem, which will sprout new shoots in the spring to form the crown of the tree.
- Remove Side Shoots: Trim all side branches below the five bud sites, leaving the central leader to develop the tree structure.
- Forming the Crown: In the following spring, prune the new shoots to leave about four buds per branch, encouraging a balanced, well-shaped crown. In subsequent years, prune the crown as you would with regular maintenance pruning, removing dead wood and encouraging healthy new growth.
- Regular Maintenance: As the tree matures, continue removing any competing shoots from the base of the trunk. This ensures the trunk remains clear and allows the tree to grow strong and straight.
Why Prune Elderberry?
Elderberry is a versatile plant that can thrive in both shrub and tree forms. Pruning helps maintain its shape, promotes better air circulation, and encourages more abundant flowers and fruit. Additionally, cutting back older, weaker growth prevents disease and pest problems.
By pruning your elderberry annually, you not only improve its appearance but also ensure that it remains a valuable source of food for both humans and wildlife. The berries can be used for a variety of products, including syrups, jellies, and juices, while the flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, and the fruit provides nutrition for birds.
Conclusion
Pruning elderberry is essential for maintaining its health and maximizing its productivity. Whether you prefer a bushy shrub or a more elegant tree form, regular pruning will ensure that your elderberry thrives, producing beautiful blooms and a bountiful harvest year after year.