Elderberry: planting and care, description of varieties, reproduction and cultivation with photos

Elderberry is a plant that is steadily gaining popularity among owners of private plots. Decorative bushes skillfully fit into the most bizarre landscape. Difficulties with growing rarely occur, but it is better to first familiarize yourself with the features of elderberry, care and planting, characteristics of the shrub.

Technical description of the plant

Elderberry is an unpretentious plant that easily adapts to climatic conditions, but it is better to know the characteristics of the shrub in advance. For residents of cool regions, it is important to understand immunity and frost resistance.

Resistant to low temperatures and droughts

The shrub tolerates a drop in temperature, will not die even at 30 degrees below zero. Young plants will have to be covered for the winter, seedlings often freeze out.

The plant is not afraid of drought, but it is better not to check the survival of elderberry, in extreme heat without moisture, the bush loses its decorative effect. In the absence of watering, the leaves curl, turn yellow, even fall off.

Immunity to diseases

Elderberry rarely gets sick. If you do not forget about preventive treatments, the shrub will grow and develop rapidly, bloom luxuriantly and bestow useful fruits.

External parameters

Elderberry is a lush shrub or tree. The plant is distinguished by longevity, with proper care it will inflate the eye up to 60 years. Refers to partially poisonous crops, leaves, young shoots, bark contain a small amount of toxins.Despite this, often plant materials are used in folk medicine for the preparation of ointments, infusions.

Shrub size

Elderberry height - up to 4 m. Shrub diameter - up to 3 m. To get a compact plant, you will have to prune regularly. Some varieties do not differ in size, the height of adult bushes does not exceed 1 m. Dwarf varieties are used to decorate flower beds, in gardens they are easily replaced by large specimens of the plant kingdom.

Root branching

The rhizome is long, reaches 5 m, has many lateral processes. The roots penetrate deep into the layers of the soil, therefore, in extreme conditions, elderberry is able to extract moisture on its own so as not to die. Some roots run close to the surface, so when loosening it is better not to go deep into the ground.

Flowering and fruiting

The flowers of the plant are small, collected in white small inflorescences-shields. Some varieties have pink flowers. Thanks to the persistent aroma, elderberry serves as an excellent honey plant; bees flock to the smell with pleasure. Pests of fruit plants do not like the smell of elderberry, so insects rarely settle even on nearby plants. Some gardeners specifically plant elderberry in the garden to protect fruit trees and shrubs from pests.

Flowering occurs in the last month of spring or early summer. Fruiting begins in mid-July and continues until August. The fruit of the bush is a glossy berry. Depending on the variety, the shade of the fruit varies from purple to blue-black.

How to plant elderberry in the open field

There will be no particular difficulties with planting elderberry, the process is no different from planting ornamental shrubs. The main thing is to comply with the deadlines, purchase a high-quality seedling, prepare the soil.It would be useful to choose a cozy place for the plant. Take care of a sunny area without access to drafts, gusts of wind can damage the branches of the bush.

Disembarkation dates

It is better to plant elderberry in the spring, before the juice begins to move. Wait for the frost to completely disappear, temperature fluctuations can damage young plants. If it was not possible to guess with the timing, it is better to cover the bushes with agrotextiles at night. In warm regions, the process is recommended to be carried out in the fall, before the onset of cold weather, the bushes will have time to take root and prepare for frost. Be sure to use shelter, young plants can die even with a slight drop in temperature.

Favorable neighborhood

Do not plant shrubs near trees with a lush crown, the lack of light will affect the condition of the elderberry, the plant will lose its decorative effect. It is important to grow variegated species in sunny areas, the patterns on the leaves in the shade will quickly disappear.

The elderberry looks beautiful in group plantings. It is recommended to use different varieties for planting - variegated, white, red. Be sure to first familiarize yourself with the characteristics, it is better to combine plants not only in appearance, but also in crown diameter, the size of an adult plant.

It is not recommended to plant dwarfs and tall varieties nearby - the giants will certainly destroy the smaller brothers.

Suitable soil and hole sizes

Elder prefers light nutrient soils. If the soil on the site is poor, it is recommended to prepare the mixture yourself. Mix:

• peat;
• garden soil;
• sand (coarse, river);
• garden land.

It is better not to use compost, but to put a thick layer as mulch.

The roots of the seedling have a small diameter, so the size of the hole does not exceed 50 by 50 cm.

Technology for planting and caring for seedlings

Before planting, it is recommended to soak the roots of the seedling. Use a stimulant solution or a clay mash (400 g of clay per bucket of water).

When planting, make sure that the roots do not break, straighten the shoots. Gently sprinkle with soil, after each portion of the earth gently shake the seedling, which will fill all the voids between the shoots. Be sure to follow the root collar. It should not go deep into the ground or rise too high above the ground. Ideally, if the root collar is flush with the soil.

Immediately pour water - 10 liters of liquid is enough for a bush. Lay a mulch layer. After planting elderberries, care is simple - water every 2-4 days. If the weather is too hot, moisten the soil daily.

What you need for good growth and yields

If the growing conditions are met, the bush will please the harvest in 2-3 years after planting. Main Requirements:

• regular watering;
• feeding nutritional formulations;
• loosening the soil surface;
• shelter for the winter (in too cold regions);
• pest control;
• prophylactic treatments.

Another requirement is regular pruning, otherwise the bush will look sloppy, lose its decorative effect.

Irrigation Regularity

Water elderberry is recommended often, especially in the summer. The frequency of watering depends on the weather. If it is too hot, irrigate the soil 3-5 times a week.Use warm water, settled for several hours in the sun. Watering from a hose is not recommended, there is a risk of provoking the appearance of ugly spots on the leaves.

Stop watering from mid-autumn, the bushes should prepare for wintering. Waterlogging the soil before frost will lead to freezing of the root system. Frost will not bring much harm, especially to unpretentious varieties. They will quickly go into growth with the onset of heat and quickly grow new roots. More delicate species do not recover well, and some are able to die altogether.

Fertilization

Use complex fertilizers for top dressing. Do not overdo it with the introduction of nutritional compounds, one feeding per month is enough. If compost was used for mulching, fertilizers can be discarded, useful elements will penetrate into the soil with water.

Some gardeners use home dressings - an infusion of compost or humus. It is better not to abuse organic matter - two or three fertilization per season is enough.

Be sure to pre-water the soil abundantly so as not to burn the roots passing near the surface.

Shaping cut

Pruning is best done in early spring, although it is better to form old bushes in autumn. Usually, frozen, dry, wind-broken branches are removed. Elderberry can be turned into a stem tree, keep the main trunk and regularly trim the side shoots at the bottom of the plant.

Pest control and disease prevention

Insects often do not have to be fought, pests are reluctant to occupy the plant. Most often, aphids settle on elderberry, against which it is recommended to use an infusion of ash:

1. Bring 5 liters of water to a boil
2. Pour wood ash (500 g) with boiling water.
3. Leak for 5-8 hours, tightly closing the container.
4. Strain, process the bush.

It will take up to 3 treatments to get rid of insects. To prevent re-infestation by pests, use the infusion for prevention at least once a month.

If the plant is infected with an elder mite or a fly, you will have to resort to chemicals. It is recommended to carry out the treatment with Fufanon. Usually, after the first irrigation of the leaves, insects disappear, but it is better to re-apply the solution after a week - this ensures that after a while the pests do not occupy the bushes.

Elderberry rarely gets sick, but it's better not to risk it and carry out preventive treatment with copper sulphate every spring. Some gardeners use Bordeaux liquid, which is equally effective in preventing disease infection.

How to propagate an elder bush

Propagation of a bush can be done in several ways - by seed, cuttings and dividing the plant. Some gardeners use cuttings, elderberry quickly takes root and grows.

Seeds at home

Propagation by seeds is a rather unpopular way, since it will not work to keep all the maternal traits of the variety. Growing young plants is easy:

1. Gather seeds in autumn.
2. Dry the planting material a little.
3. Sow the seeds directly on the bed (be sure to sprinkle with a layer of soil 2-4 cm).
4. Cover with a thin layer of compost.

In the spring, remove the compost immediately after the onset of heat. Sprouts will appear pretty quickly. Care for young plants is simple - watering and regular loosening of the soil. Transplant to a permanent place in a year.

Cutting

For cuttings, choose only green annual shoots. Make sure that each branch has at least 2 internodes. It is better to root the cuttings directly in the ground (use a mixture of peat, sand).Build a greenhouse out of polyethylene or glass. Monitor the moisture content of the substrate, carry out regular moistening.

If propagation is carried out by lignified cuttings, it is better to leave them until spring in a cool basement. With the onset of heat, plant immediately on the beds, after preparing the nutrient substrate. Taking care of the cuttings is simple - watering, removing weeds, loosening the soil.

Method of propagation by layering

After the leaves appear, the elderberry can be propagated by layering. Choose a few he althy shoots, prepare shallow grooves, lay out the branches of the bush. Be sure to secure with wire. Sprinkle one of the internodes with soil, moisten regularly. Roots will appear in the middle of summer.

Don't rush to transplant - it is better to separate the young plant from the mother bush next year.

Dividing the bush

When transplanting an adult plant, it is recommended to use division. Divide the elderberry into several sections, being careful not to damage the roots and branches. You can't do it with your hands, it's better to use a sharp shovel. Each of the divisions must be dried a little, and then planted in a permanent place.

Elderberry Grafting

Elderberry is rarely grafted, despite its endurance, the plant does not tolerate such procedures well. It is recommended to cross different varieties, which can improve fruiting or increase decorative effect.

What can be vaccinated against

To reduce the risk of plant death, it is better to vaccinate standard plants. Commonly used is dwarf elderberry or weeping varieties. You can experiment with other species, but only if you have experience, otherwise the attempt to get a new plant will fail.

Technology and timing of work

Vaccination is best done in spring or early autumn. The top is cut off from the standard tree, several cuttings are inserted under the bark (be sure to cut at an acute angle). Carefully cover the joints with pitch, wrap with a film or electrical tape. Leave for a few months.

Caring for the tree after the procedure

It is easy to take care of a grafted tree - to water and loosen the soil. Top dressing during the first year after vaccination is not carried out. Only after the elderberry actively grows, apply complex fertilizers.

Popular varieties

Despite the vastness of the family, only some types of elderberry are used for cultivation on private plots. Before you buy a seedling, it is better to familiarize yourself with the features of each variety.

Red Elderberry

A distinctive feature of varieties is inedible fruits. The most popular species are Nana, Purpurea, Flavescens. Bushes are usually planted only for decoration. Perfectly tolerate pruning, easily take the desired shape. Not bad withstand adverse conditions (drought, severe frosts).

Black

The black elderberry has the largest number of species. Usually these varieties are planted if it is required to get a harvest, the fruits are sweet, tasty, fragrant.

Most popular types:

• Black beauty. It is considered one of the most beautiful varieties. Pink flowers collected in lush inflorescences, purple foliage are the hallmarks of the species. The berries are black and purple, used for making desserts and canning.
• Black lace. Dissected leaves are a feature of the variety. From spring, the foliage has an emerald hue, by the end of summer it is almost black. The flowers are pink in color and have a delicate lemon scent. The berries are delicious.
• Aurea. A distinctive feature of the elderberry of this variety is yellow leaves, which can change depending on the amount of sun - in the shade they become darker, almost orange.
• Laciniata. The leaves of the variety resemble oak foliage - openwork, beautiful shape. Flowering is white, not too refined, but looks very beautiful against the background of emerald foliage. It is usually grown for decoration, the fruits are small and not too juicy, therefore they are used only in conservation.
• Madonna. Chic variegated elderberry with green leaves with a yellow wide border. The flowers are golden, collected in large inflorescences. The fruits are small and often used for processing. The variety is afraid of severe frosts, although it quickly recovers after freezing.
• Lays. The variety has beautiful leaves, strongly dissected, changing shade during the season. In spring, the bush is dark green, but before autumn it flaunts black-purple leaves. The color of the flowers is traditional - light pink. The fruits are quite large, black, edible.
• Eve. It has a spreading crown, the shade of the leaves is dark purple. The foliage has an exquisite openwork shape. The inflorescences are pink, differ in diameter up to 20 cm. The fruits are large. The plant tolerates pruning, drought, low temperatures well.

Before buying a seedling, it is better to find out how the plant tolerates adverse conditions, some species do not feel well in cold regions.

Yellow

There are several types of elderberry, which has a special shade of leaves - yellow. One of the most popular among gardeners is Aurea variegata. The shrub boasts variegated golden foliage. If planted in a sunny place, it is easy to make the shades more vibrant and attractive.

Another yellow-leaved elder - Luteovariegata. From spring, yellow leaves of a saturated shade bloom on the bushes, which fade a little over the summer and acquire a light, almost white color.Inflorescences are pink, quite large. The fruits ripen at the end of summer. The berries are small, suitable for use in cooking.

White

Another curiosity among the varieties of elder - white Argentia. The leaves are almost white, on the surface of each of them there are several green spots. If you plant a bush in a sunny place, the greenery almost disappears. The variety looks very attractive among green shrubs, some owners of private plots plant a variety in flower beds. The flowers are of a white hue, so they are invisible among the foliage. The fruits are black, not too large.

Elderberry is a plant that can decorate any area. Decorative bushes look attractive against the background of green trees. If you do not make mistakes, it will be easy to grow a decorative garden decoration that does not require special care. The main thing is to provide the bushes with everything necessary, observe watering, fertilize, and prevent damage by pests or diseases.

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