Taunton Yew Information - How To Care For Taunton Yew Shrubs

Those growing Taunton yew can plant them in sun or in a location with shade and get equally good results. For best Taunton yew care, install these shrubs in moist soil, ideally sandy loam, with excellent drainage. Avoid wet growing conditions since this can kill the shrubs.

How do you take care of yew bushes?

How to Care for a Yew Shrub

Feeding Your Yew. Wait a year after planting to fertilize your yew shrub in early spring. ...
Water and Mulch. Water your yew weekly in dry weather for the first year after you plant it. ...
Spring Pruning. Yew shrubs typically need annual pruning before their new foliage emerges in early spring. ...
Winter Care.

What is the best fertilizer for yews?

Fertilize the shrubs in early spring with ½ cup 10-10-10 fertilizer spread around the base of the plants. Japanese yew grows best with a soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5. In more acidic soils, the leaves may yellow. Lime the soil a season before planting to raise the soil pH.

What causes yews to turn brown?

When salts have washed into the soil under a yew, leaching the soil with a large amount of water may help. Wounds to the bark of branches can also cause portions of yews to turn brown. Such wounds can be caused by animals or inadvertent injury by people. ... Browning of yews, possibly from salt damage.

Why are my yew bushes dying?

Diseases. Largely disease-free, yew shrubs do suffer from phytophthora species that cause crown and root rot. When these damage the roots, the entire plant is sent in a downward spiral. Branches begin dying, leaves often turn yellow, plant growth is stunted and death will ensue if the fungi are allowed to remain.

Are yews poisonous to dogs?

This common evergreen (meaning the plant stays green all year round) is extremely poisonous to all species (e.g., dogs, cats, horses, cattle, humans, etc.). All parts of the plant (including the succulent, red berries) are very poisonous, as they contain taxines.

Is it illegal to cut down a yew tree?

Yews are also protected if they are in a conservation area and the C of E's own law requires churches to seek permission to remove any churchyard trees. ... Many yew trees were in place before churches were even built – they are an important part of our national heritage.”

How hard can you cut back a yew hedge?

You can easily cut yews right back, down to the old wood — they can tolerate that. After pruning, you would be looking through a hole, however, which is not that attractive in a hedge that is then merely waist-high. The aim must therefore be for the surface of the hedge to fill in quickly and become green again.

How do you shape a yew bush?

Cutting your yews into a pyramid or similar shape is a good choice. Use pruning shears to maintain the shape of the yew. To maintain a perfectly shaped yew, snip off new growth that extends past the desired shape using hand pruners or pruning shears.

Are all yews poisonous?

All parts of the plant are toxic except for the berries. The seeds within the berries are toxic. Yew contains several different toxic alkaloids which are collectively referred to as taxine.

What is the best yew for a hedge?

Hicks Yew (Taxus x media 'Hicksii') is the best hedge for deep shade locations, although it also thrives in full sun. This is a naturally narrow plant, so it is good for small spaces. It has evergreen needles and bright red fruits. Hicks Yew is hardy to USDA Zones 5-8.

What should I feed my yew?

Give them plenty of organic fertilizer in early spring to get them to the height. Once they have reached your desired height a light feed of fish, blood and bone will keep them looking green. Any other general purpose plant food is fine, but always read the label and under feed rather than over feed.

How do you rejuvenate a yew?

Chop the entire yew to within 6 to 12 inches of the ground if it is leggy with numerous patches that don't have foliage or lost its natural, rounded, pyramid shape to poor pruning. When new growth starts to emerge in late spring to early summer, cut stubs back to 1/4 inch above where new growth begins to emerge.

Can a brown evergreen come back?

The answer is yes, depending on the cause. When an evergreen turns brown, it can be both surprising and disheartening. The good news is that a brown evergreen can come back green as soon as the following year, although it may need a little work to help it through the process.

Can yews grow in full sun?

Yews grow in full sun to dense shade, but best with some shade to provide winter protection from strong winds. Prefer moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Yews will not tolerate wet soil.

Do yew bushes have deep roots?

The wood of a Yew is extremely dense and difficult to cut with the sharpest chainsaw and the root system is widespread and very deep. ... Topping out at anywhere from 5-40 feet depending on the cultivar, full-grown Yews are notoriously difficult to extract, due to their deep and hearty root structure.

How long do yew bushes live?

Longevity. Taxus baccata can reach 400 to 600 years of age. Some specimens live longer but the age of yews is often overestimated.

How do I prune a yew bush?

To make a yew tree bushier and fuller, just clip off the outer growth. This heading cut stimulates new growth and makes the tree look rounder and fuller. Be careful not to trim the top of a yew until it has reached your preferred height plus a few inches.

How much yew is poisonous to dogs?

2 Dried yew plant material retains its toxicity for several months and remains a hazard to domestic animals. The amount of plant material required to obtain a lethal dose is quite small: The LDmin in dogs is about 2.3 g of leaves/kg, or about 11.5 mg/kg of taxine alkaloids.

Can yew berries kill you?

This shrub is commonly planted in front of houses, apartments, and businesses; however, nearly every part of the plant is extremely toxic. Just a few berries can lead to serious poisoning or even death.

Can you touch a yew tree?

Usually, most common reactions simply include eye, skin, and respiratory irritation, as well as nausea, headache, and cardiac effects. Additionally, nearly all parts of the Yew tree are considered toxic and poisonous to humans, and care should be exercised when working with this wood species.