QuestionsHow to growTrees and ShrubsSpacingSad sambucus 0 Vote Up Vote Down Jacinta Byrne asked 14 years ago The sambucus nigra in the garden hasn’t been happy these past few years; we’ve tried pruning, then not pruning but nothing has helped. The leaves have some brown marks on, probably not distinguishable in the photo. 1 Answers 0 Vote Up Vote Down Gerry Daly Staff answered 7 years ago Hard to say from the photo but it looks dark and elder tends to die back if dark and damp. Give more light, control grass or weeds and feed with compost or shrub fertiliser or general fertliser.