How to Plant Sambucus

Dig a hole in a sunny location. The hole should be twice the diameter of the container, but keep the planting depth the same as the container. Loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole with the edge of your shovel.

Remove the weeds in a 3-foot circle. Sambucus plants do not compete well with other vegetation, because they rob the nutrients and moisture from the soil. Do not use an herbicide to kill the weeds, because it could harm your sambucus.

Fill the planting hole with water and allow it to drain away into the soil. This ensures that the water goes down deep.

Remove the sambucus from its container by laying the container on its side. Grasp the stem of the sambucus close to the soil and pull gently. If the sambucus won't come out, slide a long knife blade between the soil and the wall of the container. Move the knife blade all around the container. If the sambucus still won't come out, cut the container away.

Center the root ball in the hole. Fill in the hole with the soil and firm the soil with your hands or foot. The root ball should be level with the rest of the ground.

Water the sambucus deeply every one to two weeks during the growing season. Turn the water on slow flow and allow the water to run until the area is wet. Allow the ground to dry between each watering.

Spread a layer of organic mulch around the plant. The mulch keeps the weeds from growing, and helps the soil to hold in moisture.

Fertilize the sambucus with a high-nitrogen fertilizer in the spring to encourage new growth.