How to Care for Elderberry Bushes

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 weeds themselves.

Use fertilizer on your plants in the early spring. Use a half pound of 10-10-10 fertilizer per plant for each year of the plant's age, up to one pound per plant. See the fertilizer container for detailed instructions.

Harvest the fruit in late August or September, after the entire cluster of fruit has become ripe. Remove the entire cluster, then strip the berries. They should fall off easily. Use the fruit quickly, or store at a cool temperature.

Prune the bushes in the late winter once the plant has become dormant. Remove any broken or weak canes, plus any growth that is older than three years. Make sure you leave an equal amount of one-year, two-year and three-year canes for later growth.

Prune diseased canes at any time of the year when you notice them. Small black insects called cane borers may occasionally damage the elderberry cane. You can spot these pests by looking for damaged sections on the canes that appear brown and eaten away. Removing these canes promptly generally eliminates the problem.