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Irish Elder Plant - Description
- Bare Root Elder Hedging Plants
- Sambucus Nigra
- Common Names: Elderberry Bush, European Black Elderberry, Black Elder Bush or Boon Tree
- Bare Root Plants
- Size: 3ft-4ft (90 - 120cm)
- Quantity: 25 Plants
- 1 Year Old Seedling / Bare Root
- Spacing Distance: From 2-3ft apart
- Best When Mixed Through a Native Hedgerow
Delivery - Important Note - Please Read
- We can only deliver orders of this product by Fastway couriers
- Please do not choose DPD as your courier for orders containing this item
Irish Elder Plant - Characteristics
- A native of Ireland - Common in Irish hedgerows
- Mature size: 3m to 5m
- Deciduous shrub, they loose their leaves in Winter
- Foliage - Early to come into leaf in Spring
- Leaves are approx. 10-30cm across & pinnate with 5 to 7 leaflets
- Fast growth rate
- Flower - Clusters of cream flowers appear in June / July
- Fruits - Deep red / black berries appear from September onwards
- A hardy plant, able for cold Winters & hard frosts
Irish Elder Plant - Uses
- The fruits & flowers of the elderberry can both attract & repel insects
- In the garden, the elder can be used as a fast growing specimen shrub or informal hedge
- Can be used with other natives to form a native hedgerow
- Suited to a sunny spot on most soil types
- Can plant for fruits to make elderberry juice (Note: Cook berries before eating)
Irish Elder - Planting Instructions
Sowing Time
- All bare root shrubs are planted from October to March
- Avoid frosty conditions, where the ground is frozen
Trench Preparation
- Prepare hole / trench approx. 2ft wide & 2ft deep
- Add farm yard manure to base of the trench / hole
- Lightly cover the manure with a layer of soil
Positioning Plants
- For hedging, space plants 30-90cm apart
- When planting, hold plants at ground level & back fill the top soil
- Ensure each plant is straight & soil is compacted in around it's root ball
- Level off the soil around the plants
Handling the Plants
- Be sure to water both before & after planting
- When plants arrive, plant them straight away
- If you are unable to plant straight away - then 'heel them in' temporarily
- Keep plant's roots in their bag & avoid exposure to sun light
- Take care not to damage roots, bark & buds
After Care
- Water bare roots plants regularly until plants establish
- Water before & after planting
- If dry weather persists, water every 2 days
- Weeding is also essential, especially bind weed which can quickly smoother a young hedge
- A new hedge will need to be weeded at least 3 time over the growing season
- Weed in March, June & September
- We recommend using weed membrane & mulch to control weeds
Pruning
- Elder is a fast growing plant
- Cut back hard in March to encourage a more dense canopy
Irish Elder - Quick Facts
- This common & native plant is shrouded in folklore & myth
- Elder is known as a 'coloniser' as it is the first plant to establish on bare soils
- The word 'Eld' comes from a Saxon word meaning 'Fire'
- The hollow stems of the elder were used to blow at fires
- They were also used in making musical instruments such as pipes & whistles
- Elderberry juice was used to treat flu & colds
Note: We don't ship plants on Fridays due to the extended period they would remain without light & water
Shipping Options & Rates
FOR IRELAND & NORTHERN IRELAND
Standard Delivery on Plant Orders currently taking 6 working days
- Currently Plant orders are taking 6 working days to ship
- If you choose express we will fast track your plant order
- Standard Courier Delivery With Fastway (5-7 Working Days)
- Cost is €4.95 on Orders Below €75
- Free Delivery on Orders Above €75
- Rep. of Ireland & Northern Ireland Only
- Express Courier Delivery With Fastway (1-2 Working Days)
- Cost is €5 extra for express delivery
- This service guarantees that any order placed before 4pm will ship from our depot the same day on the next day delivery service *
- Rep. of Ireland & Northern Ireland Only
- Express Delivery With DPD (1-2 Working Days)
- Cost is €11.45 for orders below €75
- Cost is €6.50 for orders above €75
- This service guarantees that any order placed before 4pm will ship from our depot the same day on the next day delivery service *
- Rep. of Ireland & Northern Ireland Only
- This services comes with email tracking
- 'Seed' Postal Delivery Option ***
- Cost is €2 - Packet of Seeds ONLY Orders
- Note: Does Not Apply to Seed Potatoes, Bulbs or Sets ***
- Rep. of Ireland & Northern Ireland Only
- This is a non-trackable service
MAINLAND ENGLAND & SCOTLAND & WALES (Currently Unavailable Due to Brexit)
- Standard International Courier
- Cost is €10
- UK shipping fee covers parcels up to a total weight of 20Kg
WESTERN EUROPE & WORLDWIDE
- Standard International Courier
- Delivery rates vary, please see chart below
- Note: There is no free delivery for Western Europe Deliveries
Bulk Bags & Large Item Pallet Deliveries
- Bulk bags & large orders are shipped via pallet couriers on a rigid lorry
- Delivery is to kerbside only
- If road access to your site is tight, then please advise us before purchasing
- Please Note: We cannot guarantee next day delivery on pallet deliveries
- Also, we cannot guarantee delivery on a specific day (Please allow 1-3 days for delivery)
- It's always best to order well in advance to avoid disappointment
- Cancellation of pallets when items are already in transit will incur a 40 euro per pallet cancellation fee (To cover return delivery costs)
- Where pallet delivery can not be made due to site access, a 40 euro per pallet cancellation fee will apply (To cover return delivery costs)
International Delivery Prices & Times
- Please note max weights below, heavier orders may require additional payment
- We will contact you to discuss, if max weight of order exceeded
Terms
- The shipping fee is fixed for an order, regardless of the number of items bought
- All courier orders require signed proof of delivery & the customer must be contactable by phone
- We do not offer a weekend delivery service (Mon-Fri Only excl. Bank Holidays)
- * Our courier achieves a 98% success rate on next day deliveries
- Once your parcel is shipped it will be placed on works courier's next day delivery service
- ** Seed postal option applies to seed ONLY orders & is available in all 32 counties of Ireland
- *** Does not apply to seed potatoes, bulbs or sets
