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Is common Elder invasive?

alfharris8alfharris8 Posts: 513
in Plants
Two Elders have popped up over the past year in an area of garden we would like to redesign.
Whilst at they are not a problem at the moment (approximately 5ft), I have heard they can be invasive so am I best to move them now whilst they are manageable or are they able to be kept in check and more shrub like easily?
Thanks. 

Posts

  • Butterfly66Butterfly66 Posts: 885
    It’s ground elder which is an invasive weed, completely different plant and no relation to elder bushes/trees
     If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero
    East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,306
    You can chop them down to the ground every year if you wish - they soon shoot up again.
    Or just prune them down to whatever height you want, but they will grow vigorously.
    They do sucker a bit and seed dropped by birds germinate quickly 
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • alfharris8alfharris8 Posts: 513
    Thanks Pete.8, 
    We have some around the garden but the others are giving good service as hedging. 
    I think they are attractive , just didn't want them to become a problem where they are. Cheers. 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,149
    If you are going to redesign that area and already have elder bushes elsewhere I would dig them out now before they get so established it becomes difficult.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    I agree with @Obelixx.  They are great as part of a large mixed hedge and are often used in field boundaries, but not something I let grow when they seed in a border or other planting area (unless it is a 're-wilding' project?)
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,409
    They are not invasive in the same way as bindweed or ground elder, but the birds love the berries and then deposit the remains everywhere. I have several full grown trees in a large garden and have to regularly weed out elder saplings from all over the place!
    It happens with blackcurrants and rowans too :)
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