Trimming Elderberry Plants Learn About Pruning An Elderberry

Pruning Tips

1. During the first two seasons, elderberry plants should be encouraged to grow vigorously with little to no pruning required.
2. After the second year, pruning should be done annually in early spring.
3. All dead, broken and weak canes should be removed.

1. When should elderberry be pruned?
2. How do you prune elderberries?
3. How do you prune elderberry black lace?
4. How do you winterize elderberry bushes?

When should elderberry be pruned?

The recommended pruning time for an elderberry bush is during the winter, when the bush is dormant. Pruning involves removing canes that are 4 years old, or older, and any dead canes or canes in decline. Ideally after pruning, the elderberry bush will have an equal number of 1-, 2- and 3-year-old canes.

How do you prune elderberries?

Growing with loose, arching canes, elderberries require pruning and trimming to keep the shrubs dense and to improve fruit production.

1. Remove 4-year-old canes by cutting them back to the ground during the dormant season. ...
2. Cut broken, dead or weak canes at the base to remove them from the bush.

How do you prune elderberry black lace?

Hard prune "Black Lace" elderberries in early spring every three years. Cut the shrub back to within 1 foot of the ground after its first winter to encourage a bushier shape. Use very sharp and clean bypass loppers to cut the stems.

How do you winterize elderberry bushes?

The branches of the plant should be tied in towards the center, then a circle of hardware cloth can be placed around the outside. The base of the hardware cloth should be buried in the soil or mulch. This protection should be installed in late November and removed in mid April.