Drooping Elderberry

[bobm]

I have 2 Black Lace Elderberries. I planted them 3 years ago about 30 feet apart, same sun/shade hours per day. Up to yesterday, they were the picture of health, about 8 feet tall, and loaded with a huge crop of elderberries. A week ago on Saturday morning, I watered all of my garden since we had a garden tour that Sunday and so that the garden would look fresh. We are now at the beginning of a heat wave, so last Sunday morning, I deep watered all of my plants. Yesterday it reached 99* , it is supposed to reach 107* by Thursday. This morning one of the elderberry bushes has about half of it's smaller branches drooping badly and their leaved are turning crispy. I can't see any insect or any other infestation evidense or dammage whatsoever. The other elderberry shows no signs of stress or illness.

 

[thistlebloom]

Are there gophers in your neighborhood?

 

[bobm]

Are there gophers in your neighborhood?

There are NO gophers. We have been fighting moles for years, however there is no evidence of them within 20 feet of eather elderberry.

 

[valley ranch]

Greetings bob, This may or may not apply: If the Elderberry was somewhat shaded, they, Elderberry, develop broader leaves, when exposed to greater heat and light they suffer from loss of moisture and wilt because the broader leaves are also thinner. I cleared away bushes from an Elderberry and that exposed the plant to more direct sun and had that result. This may not be the case with your plants but something related could be possible/or not~

 

[thistlebloom]

The non droopy one may have a better root system that helped it deal with the high temps better.

 

[Nyboy]

I have often purchased and planted pairs of trees and shrubs. Hoping for a mirror type look, never happens. They never grow the same.

 

[bobm]

Greetings bob, This may or may not apply: If the Elderberry was somewhat shaded, they, Elderberry, develop broader leaves, when exposed to greater heat and light they suffer from loss of moisture and wilt because the broader leaves are also thinner. I cleared away bushes from an Elderberry and that exposed the plant to more direct sun and had that result. This may not be the case with your plants but something related could be possible/or not~

Sorry, but no ! I have a Japanese maple tree that I planted last year about 12 feet away. It grew all of 6 inches +/- this past year and is now 3 1/2 feet tall. So there is a possibility of minimal additional shading onto the elderberry.

The non droopy one may have a better root system that helped it deal with the high temps better.

Thistle, possible... My backyard was a former swamp ... 20 years ago , the builder / developer brought in tons of riff raff rocks up to 6" in diameter and spread about a foot thick in our back yard , then covered them with dirt ( each truck load seems to be different type of soil ). The area of the non-affected elderberry has more riff raff rock , deaper rock by 4" and covered with less dirt, 2" vs. 6". At planting time for all of my Japanese Maple trees, Crabapples, blueberry bushes, heathers, etc. uncluding the 2 elderberries , I dug holes about 18" in diameter , removed the rock fill, dug through the 4" of hardpan , filled in the holes with a mixture of the soil , purchased top soil, and some compost.

I have often purchased and planted pairs of trees and shrubs. Hoping for a mirror type look, never happens. They never grow the same.

 

[bobm]

About years ago, our city planted deciduous trees in the center divider on Main St. leading out of town. No irrigation was installed. We haven't had ANY rain for 49 days now which is highly unusual. Yesterday, I drove past them on my way out of town and noticed that all of these trees look quite stressed and the leaves are turning into their fall colors. The trees on the side of the road are all nice and green. By the way, as to my elderberry ... fully 1/3 of it's branches are still drooping, leaves dry, berries dried out. The rest of the branches and leaves are doing fine and loaded with berries. The other elderberry is doing great and is loaded with berries.

 

[ninnymary]

Bob, your tree sounds like my fig tree. I have asked everyone I can think of and googled to find out what causes it, and nothing. It is not related to watering because I deep water it once a week and the leaves never perk up. My leaves are dry but not as crispy sounding as yours. The rest of the tree and leaves are fine. The only thing I can think of is that somehow the roots related to that branch are not getting whatever they may need. I top dress with my chicken poop compost, horse manure, and wood chips. I know the soil is healthy because I find fat worms. It continues to produce well so I just try not to worry about it.

Mary

 

[bobm]

The nothing information continues and the rest of this elderberry shows more signs of stress and drooping. It has sent out new shoots on the branches and a few on the low part of it's trink which started to droop too. All other plants near and under it and the other elderberry are healthy as can be. I fear that it is more likely than not toast.