How to prune elderberry 'york'

Late winter to early spring, during full dormancy before bud swell. Cut the oldest canes (dark, thick bark) to ground level with loppers. Shorten the remaining tall canes by about one-third to promote lateral branching and heavier flowering along the stems.

Annually. Elderberry 'York' is a large, vigorous cultivar that needs annual renewal pruning to stay productive. Each dormant season, remove one-third of the oldest canes at the base and cut out any dead or crossing growth. Tip-prune remaining canes to stimulate branching. Without pruning, 'York' becomes an overcrowded thicket with declining fruit size.

Cut the oldest canes (dark, thick bark) to ground level with loppers. Shorten the remaining tall canes by about one-third to promote lateral branching and heavier flowering along the stems.