I have an elder tree at least ten years old, it was pruned a bit last year but otherwise left to its own devices. It's got lots of little black insects on it, will these damage it? Guessing the lack of rain for the last month has something to do with them.
It's probably blackfly. They'll have no ill effect on the elder and will provide much needed food for birds and (soon) ladybirds. The elder will soon outgrow any superficial damage caused
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Help!! I just googled for help and found this thread. My Black Lace was covered in black flies and green bugs, and I mean covered. It's about 8ft tall and the very top seems fine. I tried soapy washing, jet washing and finally was advised to use a systemic pesticide by the garde centre. My poor tree......its bottom two thirds or more has dried up, foliage is falling off and it seems kind of crispy. The top is flowering so I guess all is not lost but if anyone knows what I can do to save my tree I would be really grateful. It's about 10 years old.
Help!! My Pink Elderflower is just over a year old. Last year I had a beautiful display of flowers. This year I do not have any. I cut it back quite hard probably October time. Should I have left it until about March/Spring time before cutting it back? And should I have just pruned it rather than cutting it right down if I want the flowers and berries?
If you're growing it mainly for foliage then cut it hard back every spring. The foliage will be of better quality if you do this.
If you want flowers and fruit then don't do the above, but once every three years or so take out some of the older stems right down low to rejuvenate the plant.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Yes, it flowers best on wood formed the previous year.
I've always found that in the wild elders grow well around chicken runs ... on that basis, when I've grown it I've tended to give mine a sprinkling of chicken manure pellets a couple of times a year and it's seemed to work.
Last edited: 09 June 2017 11:57:30
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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In the sticks near Peterborough
I have an elder tree at least ten years old, it was pruned a bit last year but otherwise left to its own devices. It's got lots of little black insects on it, will these damage it? Guessing the lack of rain for the last month has something to do with them.
Last edited: 01 May 2017 16:04:20
It's probably blackfly. They'll have no ill effect on the elder and will provide much needed food for birds and (soon) ladybirds. The elder will soon outgrow any superficial damage caused
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Help!! I just googled for help and found this thread. My Black Lace was covered in black flies and green bugs, and I mean covered. It's about 8ft tall and the very top seems fine. I tried soapy washing, jet washing and finally was advised to use a systemic pesticide by the garde centre. My poor tree......its bottom two thirds or more has dried up, foliage is falling off and it seems kind of crispy. The top is flowering so I guess all is not lost but if anyone knows what I can do to save my tree I would be really grateful. It's about 10 years old.
Help!! My Pink Elderflower is just over a year old. Last year I had a beautiful display of flowers. This year I do not have any. I cut it back quite hard probably October time. Should I have left it until about March/Spring time before cutting it back? And should I have just pruned it rather than cutting it right down if I want the flowers and berries?
Is it growing?
I've never been fussy about when I prune the elders but I get better flowers if I don't prune them
In the sticks near Peterborough
If you're growing it mainly for foliage then cut it hard back every spring. The foliage will be of better quality if you do this.
If you want flowers and fruit then don't do the above, but once every three years or so take out some of the older stems right down low to rejuvenate the plant.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thank you for that advice, so if I leave it now should I get flowers next year?
Regards
Yes, it flowers best on wood formed the previous year.
I've always found that in the wild elders grow well around chicken runs ... on that basis, when I've grown it I've tended to give mine a sprinkling of chicken manure pellets a couple of times a year and it's seemed to work.
Last edited: 09 June 2017 11:57:30
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.