Do not fertilize elderberry for the first year so as not to damage roots

Question

I am a homeowner without botany experience or knowledge. I try to use logical "common sense" when/if/where I can be sensible.

I want to grow more elderberries (I have one adult elderberry bush only).

Googling how to propagate elderberry bushes I find this quote: "Do not fertilize for the first year so as not to damage roots."

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If fertilizing is good for plants how can fertilizing in the first year be damaging to the plants?

They didn't say "too much" fertilizer. They said not to fertilize transplanted plants (in the first year). And yet they said to put compost into the hole (isn't that fertilizer?).

Does that specific fertilizer advice from that site make any sense to you? If so, can you explain the logic to me?

David E. Ross · Accepted Answer

I do not fertilize a newly planted rose bush the first year it is in the ground. Fertilizer will generally promote the growth of foliage. However, the roots have been disturbed and might not recover sufficiently to support (e.g., provide sufficient moisture) to support abundant foliage during warm weather. Fertilizer might also promote flowering, which stresses the plant while it is still trying to become established. All this might also be applicable to elderberry.

I make an exception to this only if the rose bush has flowers despite not being fed. Only then I give it a very light feeding.

For most woody plants, withholding fertilizer in the first year tends to be a good practice. However, I do put bone meal or superphosphate in the planting hole and then a small amount of soil to separate the new roots from the phosphorus. Phosphorus does not readily dissolve and thus needs to be placed where the roots will find it.

John Robertson · Answer

Thanks for all that good advice.You sound like you have experience.I did find this which contradicts what I first found.So it looks like it is a bit more technical than I at first knew it to be."The Horticulture Department at Cornell also recommends that you apply 1/8pound of ammonium nitrate (or 0.5 lbs. 10-10-10) for each year of theplant's age, up to one pound per plant (or up to 4 lbs. 10-10-10). Thisshould be done in the spring every year after its initial planting.

Leont · Answer

I do same with fertilizers. Some time ago I used it with a newly planted and it was not effective at all

Do not fertilize elderberry for the first year so as not to damage roots

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