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sambucus black lace cutting back? confusing advice

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  • Unless there's a good reason not to I'd plant in September.

  • JIMMMYJIMMMY Posts: 241

    .

    They are as tough as old boots and they root very easily,  hard or semi hardwood cuttings will do now!

  • SparkoSparko Posts: 3

    Yes - the one Golden Rule I've always remembered about shrubs (and trees) is that the best time to plant them is SEPTEMBER!   All my old gardening books say that.  Of course, I've broken that rule with my new shrubs this year (new house, new shrubbery), but I'm always aware that September is the best time to plant shrubs in their proper positions.   It gives the roots time to establish over the Winter.

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    Will they still flower if you cut them hard in the winter or spring, or do you lose that years flowers?

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 23,966

    Interesting to read this. I've read to prune after flowering and to cut back hard in spring. Confusing. So for 2 years I cut mine hard back in spring but it had no flowers, or hardly any, those years. So, last year I pruned it fairly hard after flowering, not pretty for a bit, then it grew a lot and looked better. This year it had lots of flowers, but is bigger than usual. I didn't get around to pruning after flowering this year, but now the birds are loving the berries so I'm glad I left it.

    But now I'm a little confused as to when to prune it as I would like it a bit smaller and I want flowers too.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    I wonder if the conflicting advice is because some people grow these as foliage plants and don't want those pink flowers. Others want a flowering shrub.

    You prune to get what you want; late winter for foliage, after flowering if you want the flowers.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,349
    Interesting discussion.

    I planted a Black Lace last spring in my new garden. I want (of course!) both foliage AND flowers but it's primary role is (with other shrubs) to provide a 2 - 3 metre high screen on our boundary.

    My plan was to cut it back to abt 3' each spring for a few years until I have the bushiness and shape I'm looking for and just accept fewer flowers for those years.

    Once I was happy with the shape of the shrub I thought about maybe cutting half back after flowering and the other half in spring.

    Do you think this might give me best of both worlds?
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • FleurisaFleurisa Posts: 779

    Sounds like a good plan to me, a bit like doing the Chelsea chop on only a few stems of a plant

  • Ninio50Ninio50 Posts: 1

    Can anyone tell me why when I cut back my black lace elderberry the branches from where I trimmed withered and died?  Is it too late now at the end of May in Chicago to trim it back the dead branches?  I'm afraid of loosing the whole bush.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,102

    Hi Ninio image

    You'll need to tell us a bit more about your elderberry bush - is it in sun or shade?  Does it get much water or is the soil naturally dry?  What are the garden temperatures? When did you cut it back and how far?

    Most of us are UK based so you'll have to help us with added information if we're to advise you image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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