Elderberry

17.08.2014

 I need a thick bushy cover to act as wind breaker for the North wind which runs loose in the field behind my garden and I prefer an edible hedge. I plant elderberry trees because they are invasive and both flowers and berries can be turned into delicious syrup.

My boyfriend did the hard work of digging in the backyard hedge amongst old tree roots, forest shoots and old ceramic debris. I cleared many branches from the various trees and bushes that are growing wild in between our apple trees and red currants, then I planted 'Samyl' (right) next to the neighbors garden and 'Sambu' (left) in between my compost bunks.
Now both trees are low and looking more like bushes, but they are bearing berries.

There is a wild elderberry tree growing tall on my acid bed, near my neighbors garden, on the west hedge of the house. There is also pink rhododendron that bloomed after I cut many dead branches last winter. Last month I added rhododendron sphagnum when I planted one hydrangea (birthday gift) and a lingonberry to this bed. I also watered once with aluminum sulfate hoping to get blue hydrangea flowers next year. If they turn pink, my soil was too alkaline and further amendments would be made.