Quality nursery stock since 1952

Pruning Guidelines for Yews

Yews are very commonly planted in the landscape, and as such, most people are aware that they require trimming. A belief has arisen that yews are a high maintenance plant. When people ask for a low maintenance plant, many times they are thinking of a no maintenance plant, which does not exist.

Landscape maintenance crews, after repeatedly pruning yews, often end up with many interesting geometrical shapes. Many times, these do not compliment the designer's original vision for the landscape. Also, with the increased interest in 'natural' landscapes, yews may be excluded from the design for fear of the geometrical odyssey that may result.

Proper selection of variety and timing of pruning can eliminate the above stated problems.

Yews, which are slow growing relative to other commonly used landscape plants, can last in the landscape for 20-30 years. Selection of the best varieties for the appropriate site can increase their useful life in the landscape without becoming a square, circle, or box. In some cases, in order to obtain the appropriate Taxus variety, a smaller sized plant may need to be substituted than originally specified. The additional patience and investment will be well worth it.

When a smaller sized, but appropriate variety has been planted in the landscape and you want to maximize its' growth each year, the following pruning guidelines apply. In the New England area, pruning should be done in August. At this time, Taxus are still active but are responding to shorter days and cooler nights and preparing to set bud for winter. After pruning, the plants will have a strong primary bud set in preparation for vigorous spring growth. By contrast, if a plant is pruned in late fall or winter, the primary bud set that took place in fall is removed. Now in spring, when it's time to break bud and grow, the plant needs to bud out from secondary buds or re-bud altogether. This makes for a delay in growth and growth will not be as vigorous. Once the plant is at the desired size, another set of guidelines applies to maintain that size, minimize growth, and still retain a natural appearance.

Timing of pruning is the most critical aspect of maintaining a yew and allowing it to have a natural and loose appearance. This can be accomplished with only 1 properly timed pruning per year. In general, this should be done in the New England area between mid-May and the end of June. Specifically, when yews generate 1 to 2 inches of new growth, they should be trimmed back to the body of the plant. This one pruning accomplishes three key things. One, it removes the previous years growth. Two, it removes part of the first flush of growth and makes the plant "re-bud" so it delays the next growth slightly. Three, it still leaves the plant enough time to recover from the pruning so it flushes out and has a fresh and natural look for the remainder of the year.

Yews are a plant, that when properly selected and managed, enables you to create an environment that is lush, creative, and beautiful.

 

 

 

 

by R.I. Nurseries

.