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Black Elder
Carlybug
Posts: 9
Hi everyone
I've found these little bugs on the stems and underneath the leaves of my Black Elder.
Does anyone know what they are?!
I've had the plant for about 4 months or so, most of the leaves are turning and dropping off now. Should I prune it back once the leaves are dropped to encourage more growth next year?
Thanks for your help!
0
Posts
no idea what the bugs are, but the leaves will be dropping around now so perhaps a good idea to collect them up and recyle both leaves and bugs in your green waste bin - unless you're a bonfire person!
Black elder grows into a substantial tree, around 2 metres high, and magnificent when into full flower. I think I would let it grow a bit before I started hacking it about....others might have better advice? I pruned back the bits that were hitting me in the face as it is quite near my washing line, but I now wish I had curtailed it's growth when it was a bit smaller.
Buddyboy, I don't want to cast aspersions, but I have never heard of Elder aphid, and a google search reveals nothing either. Do you have any more information?
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Excellent, you learn something every day and it is clear I still have a lot to learn.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Ooofff, yes, there they are!
It's about 80cm tall and maybe 50cm wide, very leggy - I wonder whether I should cut it back then as suggested, since they're clustered around the leaves at the top? Our garden is really little so I'd prefer to keep it small. I just didn't want to stimulate more growth as we're coming into winter. Apologies if that's daft, I'm new to gardening!
Re pruning, I have one in my tiny front garden, neighbour had one in a pot and i liked it so much I found myself one and put it in the ground. It grew like a triffid, and I subsequently have been cutting it back hard to a foot or so each year and it still reaches my neighbours house roof every year. Its is a lovely plant and adds a lot of interest so well worth growing. Hers is still in the pot and is only a few feet tall so if you are worried about roots and size looks like you can restrict its root run in a large pot and bury it in it, just if you do don't forget to water it.which reminds me now time to prune it down for the winter.
good luck
Thank you everyone, I really appreciate your help
I've cut the infested leaves off so it's looking very sorry for itself but really hoping it'll come back next year. Thank you again,
Carly