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Is this an elder sapling?

IlikeplantsIlikeplants Posts: 894
in Plants
And is it worth keeping?

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I keep one because it planted itself in just the right place .
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • IlikeplantsIlikeplants Posts: 894
    Yes this one has self planted and there’s nothing else around it. It’s in the semi shaded woodland area though so not a lot of sun. Does having one tree still produce flowers and fruits?
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Yes.
    If you want it to look like a small tree you need to remove the lower shoots as they appear. It will look lolly pop shaped at first. If not, you can let it grow as a bush. It will get quite big unless you keep it pruned  
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • joanna65joanna65 Posts: 75
    I have a few self seeders at one end of the garden, in what I call the really wild end. Looked awful for a year or 2 but is now a good size and thriving with lots of flowers. Really fills the space and suits that area of the garden so I am happy with it. 
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505

    Here's mine June last year. It looks  pretty much the same at the moment  
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Have this week collected the second bucket of flowers for wine. Another will be done next week and then left for the berries. We do prune it right back about every 3 or 4 years. @B3 said ours is in the right place for us.
  • IlikeplantsIlikeplants Posts: 894
    That looks very pretty @B3, I’d rather grow it as tree than a bush so will prune it to a lollipop. How many years does it take to get to a tree size?
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited June 2022
    Two or three. I have to prune it every autumn to keep it that size. I take out all the new branches . They're green and whippy and easy to chop off.
    Obviously, the trunk gets thicker every year. I think mine is about ten years old but I can't really remember
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • IlikeplantsIlikeplants Posts: 894
    Thank you, I’ll try to stay on top of it. I have to prune my willow Salix flamingo into a lollipop every year so I’m sure I can do that too.
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