Sambucus Blacklace - poor foliage

sam14

I have an 8 year old Sambucus which has grown to 12 feet, never pruned. It has always been a mass of flowers and lush foliage, but last year i noticed a drop in size and number of leaves and this year it has really struggled to get going. Leaves are sparse and small and many branches have died all together. Is it a feed problem? or is it on its last legs?

nutcutlet

Cut it right back, that way you get the big leaves. No flowers though, or not many, so you have to choose