How Do You Care For Elderberry Bushes?
Elderberries thrive in the eastern part of North America, ranging from Nova Scotia south to Florida, and east to Minnesota and Texas. Though rarely eaten fresh, the small, dark fruit is popular for jams, pies and preserves after the sour enzymes have been cooked out. They are rich in vitamin C, making them useful for colds and the flu. The elderberry bush is low-maintenance and hardy, producing a pleasant-smelling white flower. Plant elderberry bushes in well-drained but moist, fertile soil between six to 10 feet apart. The pH should be slightly acidic for best growth, though this isn’t necessary. Aim for a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Use ground rock sulfur to increase the acidity, and hydrated lime to decrease it. Apply mulch to the ground for first-year plants to protect the soil from weeds. As elderberries have shallow roots, you should avoid disturbing the soil by weeding. Continue adding mulch each year in the late winter or early spring until the plants mature and are able to suppress the
