Greetings! I have a few old pines (native to SD I’m told) that I’m doing my best to preserve. They both have volunteer elderberry bushes thriving underneath their canopies. I have been told any newer roots on the pines are relatively close to the surface. Question: do I leave the elderberry plants or are there benefits to allowing them to remain? I want to make sure that the elderberry isn’t absorbing the nutrients the pine needs, as I’m spending a lot of $ to keep the pine’s status quo. Question 2: depending on your response, plz include steps I can take to ensure removal is done accurately or if okay to leave in ground, do I prune elderberry’s at all? Here’s a few pics. Thx for your service!