Elderberry Planting Methods and Pruning, Pest and Disease Control Tips

Elderberry is a deciduous shrub widely distributed across both northern and southern parts of China. Its flowers are white when in bloom, and it is generally suitable for planting beside water, at forest edges and along lawn borders, with high ornamental value. Below, the editor will share with you the pruning and pest and disease control methods for elderberry.

Elderberry Pruning

Elderberry has strong sprouting ability and is very tolerant of pruning. There are two rare plant forms: the multi-stemmed shrub form and the collaborative form.

For cultivating the collaborative form, when the plant grows to more than 2.5 m, cut it back to a stub. From the regenerated branches, select 3 to 4 new branches that are evenly distributed, vigorous in growth, with wide growth angles, and not on the same track, to cultivate as main branches. In late autumn, cut them back to a medium stub. In the second year, select two vigorous branches from the regenerated branches on each main branch to cultivate as side branches, and prune away all other regenerated branches. After that, only adjust the crown width according to the tree's vigor. For overly dense branches, diseased and pest-infested branches and water sprouts, prune them back promptly.

Elderberry pruning:

Whichever plant form you choose, when pruning, select vigorous branches as the backbone. During the maintenance process, promptly clearing out the miscellaneous branches and side branches that grow out is key, so as to ensure the tree's appearance.

Elderberry Pest and Disease Control

The main diseases are spot blotch and gray spot disease.

Symptoms of elderberry spot blotch: leaf lesions are round, grayish-white at both ends, with brown margins, lesion diameter 2 mm to 4 mm, bearing small black dots on their surface. If not treated in time, conidia spread through air movement and infect the plant. In North China, July and August are the peak periods of disease occurrence.

Control: Spray with 75% chlorothalonil wettable granules at 600 times dilution or 50% carbendazim visible granules at 600 times dilution, once every 7 days, continuously spraying 3 to 4 times, which can effectively control the disease.

Symptoms of elderberry gray spot disease: leaves bear round or elliptical lesions, light brown at both ends, dark brown at the margins. In the early and middle stages of the disease, the lesions connect into irregular shapes, with single dark brown mold-like substances on the surface. The pathogen overwinters as mycelium on fallen diseased leaves, and when conditions are suitable the following year, conidia spread through wind and rain or watering. July and August are the peak periods of disease occurrence.

Control: Spray with 75% chlorothalonil or 50% carbendazim solution, once a week, continuously spraying 3 to 4 times to effectively control the disease.

Elderberry Pest Control

Elderberry pests include the transparent slug-like planthopper, the East Asian elderberry aphid, the elderberry looper moth, the leopard moth, and the red hawk moth.

Control methods: For damage by the transparent slug-like planthopper, spray with 10% imidacloprid wettable powder at 2000 times dilution; for damage by the East Asian elderberry aphid, spray with 95% jiemanling emulsifiable concentrate at 400 times dilution; for damage by the elderberry looper moth, adults can be trapped and killed with black light lamps during the adult stage, and during the larval stage spray with 20% diflubenzuron suspension concentrate at 700 times dilution; for damage by the leopard moth and red hawk moth, spray with 20% diflubenzuron suspension concentrate at 600 times dilution.

In the editor's view, elderberry is suitable both for pot cultivation and for courtyard planting, with very high ornamental value. The above are the pruning methods and pest and disease control methods for elderberry. Those interested, remember to save it.

Pruning Methods for Elderberry

Pruning Methods for Elderberry

Before pruning, we should first understand which plant forms of elderberry are suitable for pruning. They are divided into the multi-stemmed shrub form and the single-stem form.

Multi-stemmed Shrub Form

For this plant form there are two pruning methods. One is to bundle several small seedlings together, prune off the side branches on each seedling, keeping only the main trunk part, removing branches that grow inward and retaining those that grow outward. Subsequent pruning simply means cutting off the branches that newly grow out from the interior. The second is to prune in the nursery: prune the more vigorously growing branches, and select 4 to 5 well-growing branches as main trunks, continuously pruning branches that grow inward, again retaining only branches that grow outward.

Single-stem Form

When the plant grows to 2.5 m, it should be cut back to a stub, and new shoots should be selected as main trunks for cultivation. The new shoots should be 3 to 4 well-growing ones, with growth spreading out rather than clustering together, and with different growth tracks. The cutback should be carried out in late autumn. In the second year, select two of the best-growing side branches from each main trunk for cultivation, and remove the remaining branches. After that, it is only necessary to clear overly dense branches and control pests and diseases.

Precautions for Elderberry Pruning

Whichever plant form you choose, when pruning, select vigorous branches as main trunks. During the maintenance process, promptly clearing out the miscellaneous branches and side branches that grow out is key, so as to better maintain the beauty of the plant form. In addition, pay attention to pest and disease control, otherwise it will also affect the beauty of the elderberry's appearance.

Detailed Explanation of Propagation Methods and Cultivation Techniques for Golden-leaf Elderberry

Golden-leaf elderberry, also known as golden-leaf American elderberry, is a colored-leaf variety of Canadian elderberry. It has now been introduced and cultivated in various parts of China. So how should golden-leaf elderberry be cultivated? This article will introduce it to you in detail.

I. Morphological Characteristics

Golden-leaf elderberry is a deciduous shrub with a plant height of 1.5-3 m. The lenticels on old branches and the stem nodes are relatively obvious. It has odd-pinnate compound leaves, opposite, with 5-7 leaflets, elliptical or long elliptical lanceolate, with serrated margins, pointed tips, wedge-shaped bases, new leaves golden yellow, turning yellow-green after maturing. The cyme is terminal, about 15 cm in diameter, with small and dense flowers, and a white corolla. The berry-like drupe is red, turning blackish-purple after maturing. The flowering period is May to June, and the fruiting period is August to September.

II. Growth Habits

It prefers light but also tolerates shade, tolerates drought, and dislikes waterlogging. It has strong cold resistance and can withstand low temperatures of -30°C. It has strong adaptability to climate and can adapt to warm and humid as well as arid and cold climates. It is not strict about soil requirements, and grows better in soil with a relatively deep layer, rich in humus and well-drained. Its root system is well developed, its sprouting ability is strong, and it tolerates pruning.

III. Propagation Methods

1. Seed propagation: After harvesting mature seeds, store them in sand in winter or in a dry, shaded place. Sow in spring, sowing 4-6 g per sq m, covering with soil just enough that the seeds are not visible, and keeping it moist.

2. Cutting propagation: Hardwood cuttings can be taken before bud break in spring; select two-year-old vigorous branches and cut them into 15-20 cm long cuttings. Softwood cuttings are generally carried out in summer; select semi-lignified branches, cut them into 10-12 cm long cuttings, remove the lower leaves, keep a few small leaves at the top, insert to a depth of 2/3 of the cutting, insert into coarse sand, shade after insertion, water thoroughly to retain moisture, and they root relatively easily.

IV. Cultivation Techniques

1. Planting position: Golden-leaf elderberry shows strong growth vigor on fertile, loose soil, and moderate water and fertilizer can further promote growth. It is best to plant it in a sheltered, sunny spot, but elderberry is also fairly shade-tolerant.

2. Water and fertilizer management: In spring, during drought, water promptly. After entering the growth period, no special fertilizing or watering is needed, and in summer, if waterlogging occurs from rain, drain it promptly. If sufficient base fertilizer is applied before planting, then no fertilizer may be needed for 2-3 years, and its growth will still be vigorous.

3. Pruning techniques: Because the branches and leaves of golden-leaf elderberry have a foul odor, people usually do not carry out major pruning during the growth period. Shape it in winter, and during the growing season only slightly control the tree shape by removing buds and pinching tips. After the fruit ripens, it can be picked in late autumn when the leaves fall. In spring, properly prune branches that grew insufficiently and tender shoots that dried out in winter, so as to keep the crown neat. When the tree vigor is too weak, it can be cut back to the base, and the whole plant can be rejuvenated within 1-2 years.

4. Pest and disease control: The main pests and diseases of golden-leaf elderberry include powdery mildew, aphids, and the elderberry noctuid moth. Powdery mildew can be controlled with agents such as 25% triadimefon wettable powder at 1500-2000 times dilution, or 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder at 800-1000 times dilution, or 50% tuijunte wettable powder at 800-1000 times dilution, starting immediately when the disease first appears, spraying once about every 7-10 days, continuously spraying 4-5 times.

For aphids, the peak hatching period of overwintering eggs is during the tree's bud break period, and spraying can be used for control. For example, spray one of the following for foliar application: 1.2% ku-yan emulsifiable concentrate at 800-1000 times dilution, or 6% imidacloprid emulsifiable concentrate at 3000-4000 times dilution, or 5% acetamiprid emulsifiable concentrate at 5000-6000 times dilution, and pay attention to safety when spraying; winged aphids can also be trapped and killed by hanging thin yellow plastic boards.

For the elderberry noctuid moth, before the larvae reach the 3rd instar, choose biological or bionic pesticides, such as spraying Bt wettable powder with a content of 16000 IU/mg at 500-700 times dilution, 1.2% ku-yan emulsifiable concentrate at 800-1000 times dilution, 25% diflubenzuron suspension concentrate at 1500-2000 times dilution, 20% miman suspension concentrate at 1500-2000 times dilution, etc.