Yew, an evergreen hedge and topiary tree

Dense, dark evergreen foliage with intricately shaped sprigs, and berries that are toxic like every other part of the tree: common yew is the classic hedge and topiary conifer, native to Europe and North Africa and clipped in gardens for centuries. Give it ordinary well-drained soil, in sun or light shade, and it will accept any shaping and live for hundreds of years.

Yew at a glance

Name	Taxus
Family	Taxaceae
Type	conifer
Height	up to 50 feet (16 meters)
Exposure	full sun to shade
Soil	ordinary, well drained
Foliage	evergreen

Its evergreen foliage is very appealing since it is very dense and sprigs are intricately shaped.

How to plant yew

Common yew is a conifer usually planted as part of a hedge, and is often set up at the beginning of fall, but it can also be planted until early spring or mid-spring as long as it doesn’t freeze.

As a standalone, this tree can grow quite large, so check upon planting that it has enough space to spread out.

• Common yew loves locations with a rather high exposure to sunlight, but does well in light shade, too.
• Yew likes well drained soil.
• When part of a hedge, keep a distance of 32 inches (80 cm) between yew plants.

After having planted your yew, watering is needed on a regular basis for 2 years to facilitate root development and settling in.

Pruning yew

Yew is a tree that loves pruning and can even be shaped to whim as topiary.

If not pruned, your common yew can grow over 65 feet (20 meters) tall for the tallest species.

For yew hedges, select the pruning height you are comfortable with as well as the thickness.

• Pruning the yew is best at the end of summer or at the beginning of spring.
• A single heavy pruning late summer is enough to keep growth under control.

Spring pruning is usually associated to rising sap and tends to accelerate the yew’s growth. Since yew is a rather slow-growing tree, this solution is often best when starting the hedge off.

Yew is one of the few trees that supports hat-racking. This practice is more harmful than proper regular pruning, but for some species it can help shrink a hedge that has grown too large.

• See also our pruning tips for hedges

Choosing how and when to prune your yew

Yew reacts differently depending on when the shears come out, and the choice decides whether the plant thickens up or races away. Here are the approaches described above, side by side.

Whatever you choose, gloves are wise: every part of the tree is toxic to some degree.

Watering yew trees

Yew isn’t a very demanding tree in terms of watering, but does deserve some attention, especially at the beginning.

• Water regularly after planting for the first 2 years.
• Water after that in case of prolonged dry spell and only it you feel your yew tree has trouble coping.

• Yew tolerates drought far better than standing water, so never water so heavily that puddles linger around the trunk.
• Soak the root ball slowly and deeply rather than sprinkling the foliage, since a light spray leaves the deeper roots dry.
• A mulch of bark or leaf mould around the base keeps the soil cool and cuts how often you need to water.

Diseases and parasites that attack yew tree

Yew is a tree that resists mots diseases and fungus quite well, and its lifespan can exceed several hundreds of years.

• If a few branches turn brown and die off, it’s best to eliminate them and burn the waste every time.

• Avoid planting yew in hollows or hedge lines where puddles linger after rain, since yews are very intolerant of waterlogged soil, unless you first improve the drainage or raise the planting position.
• Yew scale leaves the sprigs sticky with honeydew and blackened with sooty mould; check the undersides of shoots for the brown, bean-shaped insects if the foliage looks dull and grimy.
• Swollen, artichoke-like tips caused by the yew gall midge are disfiguring but harmless, so simply clip them out when you shape the hedge.

Which yew to choose

Beyond the plain green species, yew comes in columns, carpets and golden forms, each suited to a different job in the garden. The table below compares the cultivars most often found on sale.

All there is to know about yew

Native to Europe and North Africa, yew has been used for evergreen hedges for centuries, but it also is showcased as a standalone in the garden.

Ideal for persons who are passionate about topiary, it lends itself wonderfully to shaping. It’s perfect for cloud pruning.

Both its longevity and hardiness make it an interesting alternative to boxwood which is more vulnerable to disease.

It’s also reputed to be an excellent wind-breaker ready to resist gales of any power – and block out inquisitive neighbors, too.

Poisonous yew berries

Take note, though, that yew is a poisonous plant.

Yew berries are absolutely not edible and all parts of the tree are toxic to some degree.

Prudent gardeners even wear gloves when pruning this tree.

Read also

• Everything there is to know about hedges: evergreen, mixed and flowered

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