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New England Gardening

Blacklace Elderberry - new plant question

12 years ago

Hello and happy Spring!

I bought a Blacklace Elderberry last fall and have not planted it yet.

It is in the container it came in. It's very leggy and is only one cane in the center. Its about 12-14" high right now, with some branching at the top.

I've read that I should cut it back to promote more branching.

I'd really like it to be more shrub like and not tree like.

If I cut it back it will just promote branches at the top and ultimately be top heavy ontop of the center cane

Is there anything I can do to make it more like a shrub rather than a tree?

It's gorgeous And fairly new to market Resembles Japanese maple!

Thanks!

Comment (1)

diggingthedirt
12 years ago
Mine's a bit leggy too, but I'd be a little careful cutting it back - I'd pinch rather than lop. It should break buds along the stem that way, without losing too much of the foliage it needs to grow.

Mine's a few years old, and in mostly sun. It's rangy and asymmetrical, but I like it that way; it's planted among hydrangeas that are fairly regularly shaped, so a little chaos is acceptable to me.
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