Elder tree needer - quick!

As some of you already know I'm building a garden at Chelsea. (Have a a look at my website for more details). But I have a problem. The design includes a Common Elder, Sambucus nigra (not the dark one) and out of the three I've earmarked, one has died and another is looking rather sad.

Now as you know, they grow like weeds, usually where they're not wanted, but they sulk when you dig them up. There are places where I could dig another but I'm concerned that it will sulk too.

What I need is one about 2 - 3 metres tall, bushy and either single chunky or multi-stemmed. I'm aware that most gardeners wouldn't give it house room but if you do have one, or know where I might get one I'd be eternally grateful.:thmb:

 

This is going to sound silly but if you dig one up now it will turn up it's heels an die surely. I have three different varieties of elders in the garden and yes they do grow well but they have temperament too. I found all mine took quite a while to get going.

 

I think your find that's what Chris is saying, I presume he wants a 2-3m elder in a pot:gnthb:

 

:dh:I need to find my glasses:hehe:

 

I need to find spell checker:hehe:

 

:lollol:

 

Boghopper,

Why not treat it as if you were preparing to move a large shrub. ie Dig through all the roots and undercut all around about a foot from the trunk. leave tree and soil in situ. The plant should then grow new roots just where they have been severed. You will need to keep watered and probably give it a spray. Dig up a pot a week before required

It might work.

 

To quote a John Rowles song from 1968, "If I only had time". Unfortunately, HBC, I don't. We start building on Friday and planting the following Wednesday so the option of what you so competently recommend, is not available. (One of them was treated just as you suggest about a month ago but it's still sulking).

The options I do have are, 1. use the two I've got, 2. dig up a couple more just before needed or 3. substitute another tree although I'd rather not if I can avoid it.

If the two I've got don't come up to scratch, and it is Chelsea after all, I've located a couple more and if necessary, will dig them with the biggest root ball possible so as to cause as little shock as I can. Unless someone's been mad enough to grow one in a pot.:rotfl:

 

The best place to get one will be from a farm, usually they have elder and other scrub weed in prevelance around the edges of buildings plus the aid of a tractor loader to lift it.

I rekon if you water heavily for several evenings before lifting and get a really good rootball then you should be ok.

Ive sucessfully moved a large copper elder before by doing this.

 

A very good tip. I have never heard of doing that and I am always giving stuff a ride in the wheel barrow. Thank you :luv:

 

Paul, I was preparing to do just that today with a couple I'd earmarked. However, I woke at 5 this morning, in a panic, when I realised I'd left an important sponsor off the brochure which goes to print today. I was looking through some old emails when I just happened across one from Coblands Nursery in Tonbridge, Kent, Best4plants.co.uk. I'd been offered Sambucus Nigra imported from Holland back in February but had asked for a picture and heard no more.

As soon as they were open I rang up and after a couple of phone calls to Holland, I've secured three pot grown specimens. They're 1.5 - 2 metres tall, so not quite as big as I'd like but I should be able to group 2 or 3 together and maybe incude one I already have with a bit of top growth. Hopefully they'll be deliverd on Monday and I can pick them up on my way to Chelsea one day next week. Phew!:flwsml: That's one less thing to worry about. Now back to the endless list.:roll:
BTW. I still need a celebrity for press day. Any volunteers?:hehe: