On 2021/03/31 9:4 pm, David E. Ross wrote:


I do not fertilize a newly planted rose bush the first year it is in the
ground. Fertilizer will generally promote the growth of foliage.
However, the roots have been disturbed and might not recover
sufficiently to support (e.g., provide sufficient moisture) to support
abundant foliage during warm weather. Fertilizer might also promote
flowering, which stresses the plant while it is still trying to become
established. All this might also be applicable to elderberry.

I make an exception to this only if the rose bush has flowers despite
not being fed. Only then I give it a very light feeding.

For most woody plants, withholding fertilizer in the first year tends to
be a good practice. However, I do put bone meal or superphosphate in
the planting hole and then a small amount of soil to separate the new
roots from the phosphorus. Phosphorus does not readily dissolve and
thus needs to be placed where the roots will find it.

Thanks for all that good advice.
You sound like you have experience.

I did find this which contradicts what I first found.
So it looks like it is a bit more technical than I at first knew it to be.

https://gardenerspath.com/plants/fru...-elderberries/
"The Horticulture Department at Cornell also recommends that you apply 1/8
pound of ammonium nitrate (or 0.5 lbs. 10-10-10) for each year of the
plant's age, up to one pound per plant (or up to 4 lbs. 10-10-10). This
should be done in the spring every year after its initial planting.

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