Black - looking , deep - purple leaves give Sambucus Black Lace plant ( Sambucus nigra " Eva " Black Lace ) , an elderberry , a dramatic appearance , and in late spring and summer , the optic effect is enhance when large clusters of tiny pink bloom stand out against the coloured foliage . Though not specially gamey - maintenance , well - time care through the yr observe this bush looking its best . Black Lace elderberry , grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 7 .
Step 1
Keep Black Lace elderberry looking lush through the grow season with regular watering . In spring and fall , weewee twice a hebdomad using 3 to 5 gallon of water each time . abuse up tearing to three times a week in summer and slew back to once a hebdomad in the wintertime . water supply slow , dowse the soil from the al-Qaeda of the trunk to the area 2 feet outside the branch tips .
Feed Annually
Once a yr , in other fountain , apply a slow - release tree and shrub fertilizer . A 6- to 8 - base - tall mature Black Lace elderberry needs 6 to 8 tablespoons of fertilizer per class . pitter-patter the fertilizer evenly from the infrastructure of the trunk to the arena 2 feet beyond the outer branch peak . water system after fertilizing .
Step 2
Prune Seasonally
When it issue forth to pruning , you have options with this elderberry cultivar . Rejuvenate leggy shrubs , prune all the stalk down 1 to 2 inches above the soil bank line . To work and control the general size , edit out back new growth by 1 to 2 feet . If the overall shape and size workplace in the garden , square away up Black Lace elderberry , pruning out the dead branches and anything that ’s broken . Early bound , before new bud open , is the best time to prune but if you miss the windowpane , you’re able to prune in autumn after the flowers slicing . Soak your pruning shaft to sanitize them before and after trimming each shrub using 1 part bleach to 2 parts water . douse the tools for five minutes , then rinse them with unobjectionable water . allow for the pecker to dry wholly before you store them .
Replenish Mulch
Regulate soil temperature , keep on moisture and keep the smoke down with annual spring mulching . practice an constituent textile , like bark chips , pine needles , sawdust or shredded barque , and circulate it from the base of the trunk — keeping it 2 to 4 inches away from the luggage compartment — out to the area 2 feet beyond the outer branches of the elderberry . Add only enough material each year to keep the mulch level 3 to 4 inch deep .
Check for Pests
Keep Black Lace elderberry pestilence - loose by check for bugs every week . Look for aphids , bantam green or brownish winged insects , and spider mites , minuscule picket to orange - distort insects , once a week . Both aphid and spider soupcon fee in large mathematical group on the undersides of leaves . When you bump an infestation , start with a strong spray of body of water to knock them from the plant . If that fails , spray the problem surface area once a week with ready - mixed insecticidal soap spray . Spray the insect directly until the area is saturated to the breaker point of dripping .
Mitigate Diseases
Occasionally , Black Lace elderberry will brook from powdery mold , a powdery centre on the leaves , or leafage spots , dark spots that appear on the leaf . you may minimize the chance of disease by watering only at the understructure of the shrub , rather than the leaves , and by fecundate only once a year . When signs of infection appear , cut off the diseased leaves or branches to derogate spread . When work with a pathologic bush , it ’s crucial to sanitize your shear as you go .
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