Winter work
Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of very mature Sambucus (Elderberry) shrubs. That’s because there is no lawn care, so I have time to look at them. And many of the specimens have huge woody canes at the base. Many are dead, and so big, you can literally kick them away, although I don’t recommend it. Use sharp tools and make nice cuts.
The key
Here’s the key. Every three to five years, you have to bravely cut the shrub down to the ground. That eliminates the old wood and should leave you with nice, young canes.
We have two main species in our landscapes. The native Sambucus racemosa has red berry clusters and those berries have many uses. Sambucus nigra is a stunning shrub with dark purple foliage and whitish flowers. When you see it, the ‘black lace’ label will make lots of sense.
Both elderberry shrubs have fat, opposite buds and woody stems. They’re actually fun to prune.
Mature examples
I found one Sambucus specimen on a steep back, tucked away between a cedar hedge and a tree. It was full of dead wood.
Once I removed the dead canes, there wasn’t much left.
Now that the dead wood is gone, we’ll let it shoot out. If it doesn’t come back nicely, I will find a junior staffer to blame.
If you come across a very mature specimen that hasn’t been rejuvenated, cut it down with sharp tools. Don’t break it apart like a savage.
Conclusion
If you have Sambucus shrubs in your garden or if you take care of them for someone else, don’t forget to cut them right down every three to five years. If you don’t cut them back, the canes will turn into mature stems that die anyway. We want nice, new canes that flower.
The Sambucus nigra specimens look stunning with their dark foliage.
