Elderberry bushes
 

Sacha wrote:
In its original form, it's spreading habit takes up a
great deal of space.

It also has a tendency to self seed in very inaccessible places too
where it is then difficult to eradicate. My father has one growing in a
narrow gap between his garage and a shed and it is impossible to get rid
of. It isn't physically possible for a human to get in there to remove
it. Over the years it has caused damage to both the shed and garage. I
think the only solution would be to throw massive doses of weed killer
such as sodium chlorate down there repeatedly until it succumbs.

However, at the moment it looks like outliving both the shed and garage!

--
David in Normandy.
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Elderberry bushes
 

On Tue, 15 Sep 2009 Sacha wrote:

Thanks all, I will try some cuttings and also use some seeds from
the berries. The plant that is producing the berries is in fact a
tree. It's very gnarled and must be 15' tall. It forms part of a
hedgerow between our allotments and a farmers field.

It can be persuaded to grow as a tree - I have such a one - but
normally it will grow as a bush.

I can't see any seedlings around, as I guess there's too much
competition for light, from hazel and cob. Although there is no real
problems for space as I own an allotment, are there smaller, more
compact varieties?

There are some cultivars but they are developed for their foliage
rather than their fruit. The elderberry used for its fruit is a wild
one and doesn't come in varieties, except that some bushes seem to
produce smaller fruit than others.

Unless the OP has plenty of space to let this one rampage, I really
think that gathering flowers for elderflower cordial and berries for
elderflower wine, are best done from wild hedgerows or neighbouring
farmland etc. In its original form, it's spreading habit takes up a
great deal of space.

But make sure that it isn't too near a road!

David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK
http://rance.org.uk

Elderberry bushes
 

"Martin Brown" wrote in message

I would still suggest scrumping elderberries from the
hedgerow rather than using your own growing space.
Blueberries are much more rewarding.


Update : thanks to all those who suggested PYO.
Lunchtime I scrumped about 2.5kg /6lbs which should
make about 2 gallons of wine. Other pickers had ignored
those bushes surrounded by nettles - next year I'll
bring gloves!!

~

Elderberry bushes
 

In message , Bertie Doe
writes

"Martin Brown" wrote in message

I would still suggest scrumping elderberries from the hedgerow
rather than using your own growing space. Blueberries are much more
rewarding.

Update : thanks to all those who suggested PYO. Lunchtime I scrumped
about 2.5kg /6lbs which should make about 2 gallons of wine. Other
pickers had ignored those bushes surrounded by nettles - next year I'll
bring gloves!!

Don't forget the stick with a hook on the end to pull branches down.
--
Gordon H
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Elderberry bushes
 

"Gordon H"
wrote in message
...
In message ,
Bertie Doe writes

"Martin Brown" wrote in message

I would still suggest scrumping elderberries from
the hedgerow rather than using your own growing
space. Blueberries are much more rewarding.

Update : thanks to all those who suggested PYO.
Lunchtime I scrumped about 2.5kg /6lbs which should
make about 2 gallons of wine. Other pickers had
ignored those bushes surrounded by nettles - next
year I'll bring gloves!!

Don't forget the stick with a hook on the end to pull
branches down.
--

Cherry-pickers or chainsaw, whatever is cheaper. -:)