All elderberry species are flat-rooted. This property has far-reaching consequences in the garden. Find out here what to consider when planting elderberry in relation to the root system.
What characterizes a flat rooter?
Typical of a flat-rooted plant is the radiating spread just below the surface of the earth. Instead of anchoring itself deep in the ground, the elder relies on a large root system. In a well-established specimen, the thick root strands with a dense network of fine roots extend far beyond the tree pit.
In this way, an elder keeps annoying competition at bay, which in turn makes it vulnerable to windthrow. At the same time, it hinders other plants in the garden in their species-specific development due to its vigorous growth. As if that weren't enough, a shallow-rooted elder will damage sidewalks, walls, and buildings by growing underneath and lifting them up.
How to limit elder root damage
Your massive dwelling house will not damage even a powerful black elder. The situation is different if the wild fruit tree is planted near a garden pavilion, a terrace or paved paths. In this case, the first thing that matters is the right distance. Place the shrub at a distance of at least 300 centimeters from paved surfaces and masonry.
To be completely safe, surround the elder with a root barrier. Ideally, you should take this measure in connection with the planting. Retrofitting is also possible. A root barrier consists of non-rotting geotextile (€107.71) and should be 1.5 to 2.0 millimeters thick. This is how it is routed correctly:
- Lay out a tape measure or a garden hose in a suitable area for orientation
- Dig a trench with a spade in circular stages up to 50 centimeters deep
- straighten the edges of the ditch with pruning shears by cutting off any protruding roots
- Insert the root barrier, align it and fix it with an aluminum rail
- the ends of the geotextile must overlap by at least 10 centimeters
After installation, the root barrier should protrude 5 centimeters from the ground so that the elder roots cannot climb over it later. Finally, backfill the trench with soil. Within the resulting island, the elder is planted.
tips and tricks
The rule of thumb for measuring the radius within the root barrier has proven itself: The growth height to be expected corresponds to the minimum island area in square meters.
GTH