I find your posts very interesting!

We have a few elderberry bushes out back and in the swamp, too. Just enough for a few batches of jelly every year.

I thought they would eat some of it. I was going to fence off what was left behind. But they ate it all to the ground. They are not heavey browse eaters like goats, so I thought they would only trim it down.They are not going into that field this year. I hope some of it comes back.

..im not a fan.

PS if you make jam with them dont use pectin!

I've got my work cut out too...I'll be digging about 50 holes for trees and shrubs, plus I'll be moving some too, to place plants in the places they need to be, rather than where I wanted them to be.

...they were on my property.

Plus the patch is large, on the order of 2 acres.

Have planted several over the years but never much luck with them. This year will try planting a few in the sunniest areas I can find in my yard. Do you do any interest in grafting? FYI there is a FB group for grafting: North American Scion Exchange.

...but based on what I have read and experienced so far, elderberries are fairly easy to grow.

Do you know what kind of soil you have? I spent a modest effort to convert my mostly clay and high pH soil to a low pH loam (mixed/added a peat/potting/organic-rich soil, wood mulch and the native soil on a 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 ratio) and was somewhat militant about watering in the first 3-months (driest part of the year around here).

However, I think the fact that I started with established 2-year old (18-inch high) plants in pots was the biggest contributor to my success.

As far as grafting goes, I'm not sure it is worth it in regards to elderberries, since they are so easy to propagate via cuttings.

See: https://gardening.stackexchange.com/questions/14194/can-i-graft-elderberries-sambucus

I've heard they are easy to grow and I see them growing wild all over. I buy the best plants but probably haven't taken care of them as well as I could have, i.e., not enough sun, too dry, etc. Will try again this year with new plants in the sunniest areas, with good soil, fertilizer, etc.

As far as grafting, I just mentioned that in case you were interested in other fruit trees, etc.

I'm going to make cuttings and starts of my elderberries. I'd just been digging up the strays, but this is great.

I want to start selling some things like this. I have 5 apothecary roses going...one for me and the rest for sale.

...and good luck.

I haven't really researched it yet, but there seems to be a market for elderberry flowers too, not just berries/juice.

Take pictures of your progress and post here, I'd love to seem them.

NG

I think that this year will be my picture taking in the garden. So much of it is now established and I'm making some big changes...we have to take down some big trees that are dying and rather than let them rot we're going to use the lumber in them and it will really change the way the landscape looks.

The elderberry flowers are gorgeous, aren't they. That was what attracted me to the bush.
Happy growing season!