Hampshire,
United Kingdom 
My sambuccus nigras have very bare branches with just a few leavesand look sickly. I have 2 plants black beauty and black lace, both do very poorly, although between them the weigelia floris purpureis flourishes. They are in a rather shady area but have morning sun. The soil is ok. Should i prune them now, or wait till feb? Feed them? They are meant to be very tough plants, what is going on?Advice please, tks Katarina
18 Aug, 2010
Best left till midwinter for pruning, and don't feed now, it's too late. As you live in Hampshire, it may just be that you didn't give sufficient water for the Sambucus, always assuming there's no evidence of disease or infestation of some kind.
19 Aug, 2010