The power of elderberry is one's joy and another's sorrow. If the wood is placed on the stick, it happily drives out again. So what needs to be done to remove elderberry and its roots? That's how it works.
Saw off and tire
Elderberry is one of the shrubs in the garden that does not give up easily. The plant has an impressive vigour, which starts to erupt again and again after it has been cut off. In order to remove a black elderberry, a lot of muscle wax or a lot of patience is required. The following strategies have the best chance of success:
- Saw off the rootstock 10 cm below the ground, cover with substrate and plant grass
- persistently remove every stick rash, no matter how small
- Expose the rootstock, chop off the side roots or cut them up with a chainsaw
- pull out up to a growth height of 3 meters with a pulley
Probably the most strenuous technique is to dig it out by hand. Since the elder is a flat root, it can succeed with a manageable effort in specimens that are not fully grown. Otherwise, a lengthy method can be considered, in the course of which the sawed-off elder tree tires within 2-3 years due to permanent removal of the rashes.
Stump grinder finishes off elderberry roots
A motor-driven stump grinder proves to be the happy medium between manual cutting and cost-intensive dredging. Small versions are hardly larger than a lawn mower and are therefore easy to handle. The milling head gradually chips the roots up to a depth of 25 centimetres. What remains is a large pile of shavings and bed soil, an excellent mulching material for the hobby garden.
Chemical preparations questionable
Various agents are circulating on the market that act on the basis of sodium or magnesium nitrate. These substances can also be found in fireworks. Holes are drilled in the elder root. RootEx is mixed with petroleum, filled into the holes and ignited. As a result, the rootstock burns so intensely inside that it can no longer grow.
tips and tricks
The intensely coloring juice of elderberries causes stains that are very difficult to remove. As long as the sap stains are fresh, there are still good chances of success. Soak the stained area in buttermilk for several hours, then wash in the washing machine according to label directions. Only dry cleaning can remove dried elderberry juice.