Elderberry tree - good or bad?

We have just discovered that one of the trees in the garden is an Elderberry tree. It is only about 6 -7 foot tall at this point and up against the fence. Are these trees a problem as we only have a small garden about 40 sq metres?

 

It doesn't grow to be a big tree so if you want to keep it, it should be OK. They're smelly trees though.

If you decide to remove it, make sure you get EVERY BIT of root and stump out because it'll only grow again if you don't.

If you see an elderberry tree in the countryside, it's a sure sign that it's on or very near a former human habitation. (Piece of useless information for you!)

 

why ....

 

It just depends if you like it Surfer. I think even in a small garden there is room for a small tree. Adds height and interest - well for me.
The leaves are interesting, the white flowers are good and then there's the berries.
I would keep it -but that's me.

 

Don't know why but it's true.

Maybe similar to the aerial survey carried out in the Highlands in Scotland recently where they found that large areas of nettles indicated where there were human habitations from before the time of the Clearances.

 

Like Alice, were it me I'd keep it. If you don't want it as a tree per se, you could keep it clipped into a hedge but either way you may want to consider the fact that it is quite fast growing.

If your'e going to keep it, remember it also has many other 'medicinal' uses. My Gran used to use the leaves to make a 'tea' which, when cold she'd rub it on her skin as an insect repellent while my Grandad used the same mix to spray his plants to kill aphids. The flowers are edible, so you can make a 'herbal' tea from them or add them to salads and cakes. I make elderflower sorbet, a beautifully light fragrant dessert for a hot summers day, you can of course also make elderflower cordial and 'champagne'. The berries are supposed to help sore throats and colds and I often mix a few in with other fruit in pies, jams or summer pudding and of course there's the ubiquitous elderberry wine.

It's presence in your garden, according to my Grandad, will help to ward off evil spirits but if you're going to cut it yourself, you must approach the tree with respect and ask it's permission - so as not to upset the 'spirits' which live within it. :skp: OK, not the most forceful argument for keeping it, but 40-odd years after being told this by my Grandad, I do find myself telling mine I'm going to give it a trim - can't be too careful!

 

Now that elders or bottreys as they call them around here are coming in to flower are there more than one type? The reason i ask is i have seen some trees with large flowers and some with relatively small flowers.

OBG

 

This elderberry was only about 4' tall 2 months ago. Now it is several foot high and growing. I really hate removing trees but when they become a pesky tree they becomes history. Right next to it is a cherry tree which come autumn we will have to prunce back drastically as it is also getting a bit to tall.
Is there any books on pruning trees in general?

PS Not sure why I am not getting notificatrions of new posts on a thread.

 

I'd keep it as well - a bit of height in a small garden can be very pleasing, plus you get the benefits of the bloosom (elderflower syrup) and the berries (wine).