Regular pruning maintains the vitality of a black elderberry. In order to prune the impressive wild fruit tree professionally, only a few aspects need to be taken into account. You can find out what these are and how to make a skilful cut here.
How do I cut a black elderberry correctly?
Black elderberry is best cut between November and March. Remove worn-out, diseased and cross-growing shoots at the base. Shorten young shoots that are too long by a third and make cuts above a sleeping eye. Make sure the shrub has sufficient ventilation.
The best time to prune
The choice of date for a shape and maintenance cut on the black elderberry has a decisive influence on the successful course of the care measure. The shrub always flowers and bears fruit on the shoots that grew the previous year. This means that cutting should take place one day after the harvest. Experienced hobby gardeners therefore use pruning shears between November and March (€14.00 on Amazon).
A black elderberry does not receive its very first pruning until its second year at the earliest. In the year after planting it should initially be able to develop unhindered. It only makes sense to cut the bush in the year after the first flowering and fruiting.
Skillful cutting with a sense of proportion
An important prerequisite for a successful process is the knowledge of how to distinguish worn shoots from young branches. Since an elderberry branch only ever flowers and bears fruit once, it is removed as part of the pruning process. You can recognize this by its curved shape, because the heavy berry clusters pull it downwards. Upright shoots, on the other hand, will bear the next crop of fruit. Based on this knowledge, professional cutting is child's play:
- cut off all worn-out branches at the base
- Obviously sick or stunted branches should also be trimmed
- Completely remove cross-growing and inward-facing branches
- shorten young shoots that are too long by a maximum of a third
- Make each incision 2-3 mm above a sleeping eye
- Throughly thin out the elderberry overall
In the end, sun and air must be able to reach all areas of the black elderberry so that it does not age from the inside. Be sure to wear protective clothing and gloves. All types of elderberry contain a toxin that can potentially cause skin irritation.
Tips & Tricks
Are you looking for extra bushy growth for your black elderberry from an early age? Then prune the new shoots from cuttings by St. John's Day. This measure promotes further branching particularly effectively.
