Planting and caring for elderberry, description of varieties, reproduction and cultivation
Elderberry is a plant that is confidently gaining popularity among owners of private plots. Ornamental bushes skillfully fit into the most bizarre landscape. Difficulties with growing are rare, but it is better to first familiarize yourself with the features of the elderberry, care and planting, the characteristics of the shrub.
Plant technical description
Elderberry is an unpretentious plant that easily adapts to climatic conditions, but it is better to know in advance the characteristics of the shrub. For residents of cool regions, it is important to understand immunity and frost resistance.
Resistance to low temperatures and droughts
The shrub tolerates a drop in temperature, does not die even at 30 degrees of frost. Young plants will have to be covered for the winter, seedlings often freeze out.
The plant is not afraid of droughts, but it is better not to check the survivability of the 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.
Disease immunity
Elderberry rarely gets sick. If you do not forget about preventive treatments, the shrub will grow and develop rapidly, bloom luxuriantly and present with useful fruits.
External parameters
Elderberry is a lush bush or tree. The plant is distinguished by longevity, with proper care it will swell the eye up to 60 years. Refers to partially poisonous crops, leaves, young shoots, bark contain a small amount of toxins. Despite this, herbal raw materials are often used in folk medicine for the preparation of ointments, infusions.
Shrub sizes
Elderberry height - up to 4 m. Shrub diameter - up to 3 m. To get a compact plant, you will have to regularly prune. 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.
Branching of the root system
The rhizome is long, reaching 5 m, and has many lateral processes. The roots penetrate deep into the soil layers, therefore, in extreme conditions, the elderberry is able to independently extract moisture 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 small white inflorescences-shields. Some varieties are characterized by pink flowering. Due to its 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 specially planted elderberries 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 lasts until August. The fruit of the bush is a glossy berry. Depending on the variety, the color of the fruit ranges from purple to bluish black.
How to plant an elderberry outdoors
There will be no particular difficulties with planting an 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 will be useful to choose a cozy place for the plant. You should 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 spring, before the juice starts to move. Wait until frost is completely gone, temperature jumps can damage young plants. If it was not possible to guess the timing, it is better to cover the bushes with agrotextile at night. In warm regions, the process is recommended in the fall, before the onset of cold weather, the bushes will have time to take root and prepare for frosts. It is imperative to use a shelter, young plants can die even with a slight drop in temperature.
Favorable neighborhood
Do not plant a shrub near trees with a lush crown, a 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.
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 just in appearance, but also in the diameter of the crown, the size of an adult plant.
It is not recommended to plant dwarfs and tall varieties nearby - the giants will certainly destroy their smaller counterparts.
Suitable soil and hole dimensions
Elderberry prefers light nutrient soils. If the soil in the area 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.
Planting and seedling care technology
It is recommended to soak the roots of the seedling before planting. Use a stimulant solution or clay mash (400 g of clay per bucket of water).
When planting, make sure that the roots do not break, straighten the processes. Gently sprinkle with soil, after each portion of the earth, gently shake the seedling, which will fill all the voids between the processes. 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.
Pour water immediately - 10 liters of liquid is enough for the bush. Put on a mulch layer.After planting the elderberry, care is simple - watering every 2-4 days. If the weather is too hot, moisten the soil daily.
What you need for good growth and productivity
Subject to the growing conditions, the bush will delight with the harvest in 2-3 years after planting. Main requirements:
- regular watering;
- introduction of nutritional compositions;
- loosening the soil surface;
- shelter for the winter (in too cold regions);
- pest control;
- preventive treatments.
Another requirement is regular pruning, otherwise the bush will look sloppy and will lose its decorative effect.
Irrigation regularity
It is recommended to water the elderberry often, especially in the summer. The regularity of watering depends on the weather. If it's too hot, irrigate the soil 3-5 times a week. Use warm water that has been left in direct sunlight for several hours. Watering from a hose is not recommended, there is a risk of provoking the appearance of ugly spots on the leaves.
Watering should be stopped in mid-autumn, the bushes should prepare for wintering. Waterlogging of 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 grow with the onset of warmth and will quickly grow new roots. More delicate species do not recover well, and some may die altogether.
Fertilization
Use complex fertilizers for feeding. Do not overdo it with the introduction of nutrient compositions, one feeding per month is enough. If compost was used for mulching, fertilizers can be abandoned, useful elements will penetrate into the soil with water.
Some gardeners use home dressing - infusion of compost or humus. It is better not to abuse organic matter - two or three fertilization per season is enough.
It is imperative to water the soil abundantly beforehand so as not to burn the roots passing near the surface.
Formative pruning
Pruning is best done in early spring, although older bushes are best formed in autumn. Usually, frozen, dry, wind-broken branches are removed. Elderberry can be turned into a standard tree, leave the main trunk and regularly cut off the side shoots at the bottom of the plant.
Pest control and disease prevention
It is often not necessary to fight insects; pests are reluctant to occupy the plant. Most often, aphids settle on the elderberry, against which it is recommended to use an infusion of ash:
- Bring 5 liters of water to a boil
- Pour wood ash (500 g) with boiling water.
- Insist 5-8 hours, tightly closing the container.
- Strain, process the bush.
To get rid of insects, you will need up to 3 treatments. In order to prevent re-infection by pests, use the infusion for prophylaxis at least once a month.
If the plant is infected with an elder mite or fly, you will have to resort to using chemicals. It is recommended to carry out the treatment with "Fufanon". Usually, after the first irrigation of the leaves, the insects disappear, but it is better to reapply the solution after a week - this ensures that after a while the pests do not occupy the bushes.
Elderberry rarely gets sick, but it is better not to risk it and carry out preventive treatment with copper sulfate every spring. Some gardeners use Bordeaux liquid, which is no less effective in preventing disease.
How to propagate an elderberry bush
Bush propagation can be done in several ways - by seed, cuttings and plant division. Some gardeners use layering, elderberry quickly takes root and grows.
Seeds at home
Seed propagation is a rather unpopular method, since it will not be possible to preserve all the maternal characteristics of the variety. Growing young plants is easy:
- Collect seeds in the fall.
- Dry the planting material a little.
- Sow seeds directly on the garden bed (be sure to sprinkle with a layer of soil 2-4 cm).
- Cover with a thin layer of compost.
In the spring, remove the compost immediately after the warmth. The sprouts will appear fairly quickly. Care for young plants is simple - watering and regular loosening of the soil. Transplant to a permanent place after a year.
Cuttings
For cuttings, choose only green annual shoots. Make sure that there are at least 2 internodes on each branch. It is better to root the cuttings directly in the ground (use a mixture of peat, sand). Build a greenhouse made 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 in a cool basement until spring. With the onset of heat, plant immediately on the beds, having previously prepared a nutritious substrate. It is simple to care for cuttings - to water, remove weeds, loosen the soil.
Reproduction method by layering
After the appearance of the leaves, the elderberry can be propagated by layering. Choose several healthy shoots, prepare shallow grooves, lay out the branches of the bush. Be sure to fix it with wire. Sprinkle one of the internodes with soil, moisten regularly. The roots will appear in the middle of summer.
Do not rush to transplant - it is better to separate the young plant from the mother bush the next year.
Dividing the bush
When transplanting an adult plant, division is recommended. Divide the elderberry into several divisions, being careful not to damage the roots and branches. It will not work with your hands; it is better to use a sharp shovel. Each of the sections must be dried a little, and then put in a permanent place.
Elderberry grafting
Elderberry grafting is rarely carried out, despite its endurance, the plant does not tolerate such procedures well. It is recommended to cross different varieties to improve fruiting or decorative effect.
What can you vaccinate on
To reduce the risk of plant death, grafting is best done on standard plants. Commonly used elderberry dwarf or weeping varieties. You can experiment with other species, but only with experience, otherwise the attempt to get a new plant will end in failure.
Technology and terms of work
It is best to vaccinate in the spring or early fall. The top is cut 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 foil or electrical tape. Leave for several months.
Taking care of the tree after the procedure
It's easy to care for a grafted tree - watering and loosen the soil. Do not feed during the first year after vaccination. Only after the elderberry is actively growing, apply complex fertilizers.
Popular varieties
Despite the vastness of the family, only a few species of elderberry are used for growing on private plots. Before purchasing a seedling, it is better to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of each variety.
Red elderberry
A distinctive feature of the varieties is inedible fruits. The most popular species are Nana, Purpurea, Flavescens. Bushes are usually planted only for decorative purposes. They tolerate pruning well, easily take the desired shape. They can withstand unfavorable conditions (drought, severe frosts) well.
Black
The largest number of species is the black elderberry. Usually it is these varieties that are planted if you want to get a harvest, the fruits are sweet, tasty, aromatic.
The most popular types:
- Black beauty. It is considered one of the most beautiful varieties. Pink flowers gathered in lush inflorescences, purple foliage are the distinguishing features of the species. Berries are black and purple, used for making desserts, canning.
- Black lace. Dissected leaves are a feature of the variety.Since spring, the foliage has an emerald hue, by the end of summer it is almost black. The flowers are pink in color and have an exquisite lemon scent. The berries are delicious.
- Aurea. A distinctive feature of the elderberry of this variety - yellow leaves, which can change depending on the amount of sun - become darker in the shade, almost orange.
- Laciniata. The leaves of the variety resemble oak foliage - openwork, beautifully shaped. The bloom is white, not too sophisticated, but looks very beautiful against the background of emerald foliage. Usually grown for decorative purposes, the fruits are small and not too juicy, therefore they are used only for conservation.
- Madonna. Luxurious variegated elderberry with green leaves that have a yellow wide border. The flowers are golden, collected in large inflorescences. The fruits are small, often used for processing. The variety is afraid of severe frosts, although it quickly recovers after freezing.
- Lace. The variety has beautiful leaves, strongly dissected, changing color during the season. In spring, the bush is dark green, but before autumn it flaunts with black and purple leaves. The traditional shade of flowers is light pink. The fruits are rather large, black, edible.
- Eve. Has a spreading crown, the shade of the leaves is dark purple. The foliage has an exquisite openwork shape. Inflorescences are pink, up to 20 cm in diameter. 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 differ in a special shade of leaves - yellow. One of the most popular among gardeners is Aurea variegata. The shrub boasts variegated golden foliage. If you plant the variety in a sunny spot, it is easy to make the shades brighter and more attractive.
Another yellow-leaved elderberry is Luteovariegata. Since spring, yellow leaves of a rich shade bloom on the bushes, which fade a little over the summer and acquire a light, almost white color. Inflorescences are pink, rather large. The fruits ripen in late summer. The berries are small, suitable for use in cooking.
White
Another curiosity among the elderberry varieties is the white Argentia. The leaves are almost white, with a few green specks on the surface of each. 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 the variety in flower beds. Flowers of the variety are white, so they are invisible among the foliage. Fruits are black, not too large.
Elderberry is a plant that can decorate any area. Decorative bushes look attractive against the backdrop of green trees. If you avoid mistakes, you can easily grow a decorative garden decoration that does not require special care. The main thing is to provide the bushes with everything they need, observe watering, apply top dressing, and prevent damage from pests or diseases.
