How to prune elderberry

How to prune elderberry

Before pruning, we should first understand which types of elderberry plants are suitable for pruning, which are divided into multi-trunk shrub type and single-trunk type.

Multi-trunk shrub

There are two pruning methods for this type of plant. One is to bundle several seedlings together, cut off the side branches on each seedling, and retain only the main trunk. The branches growing inward are removed, and those growing outward are retained. Subsequent pruning is to simply cut off the newly grown branches inside. The second method is to prune in the nursery, prune the more vigorous branches, and choose 4 to 5 well-growing branches as the main trunk, constantly pruning the branches growing inward, and only retaining the branches growing outward.

Single dry

When the plant grows to two and a half meters, it should be pruned and new plants should be selected as the main trunk for cultivation. Choose 3 to 4 new plants with good growth, and grow them spread out instead of gathering together, and their growth trajectories should also be different. Pruning should be done in late autumn. In the second year, select two side branches with the best growth from each main trunk for cultivation and remove the rest of the branches. In the future, you only need to clear the dense branches and prevent diseases and pests.

Elderberry Pruning Tips

No matter which plant type you choose, you should choose strong branches as the main trunk when pruning. During the maintenance process, it is key to clean up the growing branches and side branches in time, so as to better maintain the beauty of the plant type. In addition, you should pay attention to the prevention and control of diseases and pests, otherwise it will affect the appearance of the elderberry.