Hi there,
I'm wondering if anyone can shed some light on what is going on with the Lemony Lace Elderberry in the attached photo. It happened quite abruptly- one day it was fine, the next day I noticed the leaves were wilted in a couple of limbs off one of the main branches. While we have had drought, this area is irrigated and gets plenty of water. This doesn't really look like drought damage to me anyhow.
If anyone has any ideas let me know. Thanks so much!
Jen

Three possible causes: a bacterial canker, the soil is waterlogged or the organic mulch is causing the trunk to rot.
Cankers should be easily visible on the limbs or on the trunk.
Elderberry doesn't like waterlogged soils: in fact it grows better when the soil is on the dry side with a few deep waterings. Waterlogged soil can not merely cause nutritional deficiencies and anoxia (lack of oxygen in the ground) but is the perfect breeding ground for all sorts of fungal diseases.
Finally mulch. It's self-explanatory: if moist organic mulch (especially acidic) is in contact with the trunk it will cause the bark to rot, leading to all sorts of troubles, including dieback.

ElPolloDiablo said:
Elderberry doesn't like waterlogged soils: in fact it grows better when the soil is on the dry side with a few deep waterings.

Elderberries like constantly moist soil not dry soil here in SC. They grow wild here in ditches, along streams, and in floodplains.

ediblelandscapingsc said:

Elderberries like constantly moist soil not dry soil here in SC. They grow wild here in ditches, along streams, and in floodplains.

I think it depends on the elderberry itself. European elderberry here grows in wastegrounds, at the roadside... I rarely, if ever, water those in my garden and they grow like crazy even now with this dry hot weather (wasn't the weather supposed to change yesterday? Never trust the weather forecast). Just give them enough nitrogen in the ground and they'll do just fine.

When I've had sudden die back of a shrub, it's often because of some underground pest such as root boring insects, or some kind of nematode. I've suspected army worms too since the larva were found in the area.

Our native elderberries are found growing best along sunny ditches and low lying moist soils.

Thank you all for your replies. This variety of Elderberry indicated that it wanted it sunny and moist. It could use a bit more sun, but it's definitely not dry. I did wonder if it might be voles, since I've had them in that area before, but I haven't seen any of their classic signs. The mulch is fairly thin (1" organic bark type). I've looked at the bark around the base, and it's completely normal, so I'm leaning towards something like (either small root boring or furry root eating) underground pest.

I must say that I love the user name, if I've translated it right..."Evil Chicken"?

Thanks again,

Jennifer