I’ve gotten 10 to 15 feet of snow per year since I’ve lived here. Last year, places had 4 feet on the ground at times.
My elderberries were put in this year, and are all roughly 3 feet tall. Some are nearly vertical, others ‘droop’ a bit.
Should I be concerned about snow weighing them down/breaking them? If snow weighs them down, do they tend to spring back once the snow is gone? Do folks in snow country stake them?
Should I worry about vol damage?
I don’t get that much snow.! So ?
But i do get some , and don’t remember a problem.
They come back from the root, very well so , if they break just prune to ground ( or below break) in the spring.
Some varieties ( S. canadensis ) call for annual pruning to the ground. … S. niagra needs older wood.
Here are some links ,… One from up north
https://www.midwest-elderberry.coop/
Wow… great resource. Thanks!
I meet Terry Durahm ,whom I believe is the motivation behind
The Midwest elderberry coop . If I had a elderberry question
He is who I would ask. Very passionate about elderberry growing. I believe he is in Missouri ? So not so much snow
i get double that in snow here and never staked or had damage from snow or voles. they don’t like them. mine are 7ft wide 10ft tall now with 12-14in. wide cymes. elderberries thrive on neglect. i hacked mine down to 4ft. this spring and they came back even bigger than before i cut them. i didn’t even fertilize them this year.
With that, I’m loving elderberries just a little bit more!
just be ready to give them some room. i didn’t realize they got this big! new plants have droopy canes but once they get established, grow big vigorous canes 2in. wide at the base. just prune out the droopy ones later. just to let you know , these are growing in rocky clay , in a low spot in the yard. makes sure to keep mulch around the roots out to 4ft, elders have shallow roots and grass competition will severely stunt your plants. good luck.
They’ve got 6-8 inches of woodchips 6 feet on either side and are 25 feet from a row of apples. I say that to taunt them into trying to take over the space! Of course, one of the plants has put up a new cluster about 18” from the original plant. Maybe I should be careful of what I wish for?
As for grass, if the rest of the orchard is an indication, they have three years until the grass starts to reach back into their space.
sit back and watch the show! 
Did I just learn why my Nova asked me to hold its beer?
@moose71 Steve, what varieties are you growing? I have 5 Samdal and 1 Samyl for pollination. Wondering what varieties would be appropriate for my zone, milder here than you, but if you can grow it, it should be fine here.
wylewood , johns and york american elderberry.
Do you know if they will grow in shade? Thanks.
they will grow in part shade but won’t produce as much fruit.
Thanks