Yew Tree Too Big

Yew tree too big

Overgrown or neglected hedges If your yew hedge has become too large, it is best to prune it gradually over three years in mid-spring: In the first year, cut the top back to at least 15cm (6in) lower than the final desired height. This will help to recreate a dense, even surface.

Will a yew grow back if I cut it down?

A yew (Taxus spp.) is a most forgiving shrub. The evergreen can be cut all the way to within 6 inches of the ground and come back strong. Unlike most evergreens, a yew takes well to even harsh pruning because of its ability to regenerate new buds from old wood.

Can you reduce the height of a yew hedge?

As soon as the shoots are the length of a finger, cut them back by between a third and a half. Do the same after each new growth of the existing shoots; once the new sprouts reach finger length, trim them by the same amount again. A reduction in the height of the yew hedge also means a change in width!

Can you cut down yew trees?

This should be done in early spring, although it must be considered that recovery could take a number of years. Fastigiate yews can be trimmed in August to help maintain their shape. For yew trees generally, shaping and maintenance is usually done twice a year, once in spring and then again in the summer.

What can I do with overgrown yews?

Prune them in early spring, apply a balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, and water them through the summer. It may take a few years, but the yews will revive — so vigorously that only annual pruning will hold them in check.

How do you shape an overgrown yew?

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.

What is the lifespan of a yew?

Yew may be able to live for 3,000 years although 1,500 may be more frequent. All yew will be ancient from 900 years onward (early and pre Norman), although many will have ancient characteristics from around 500 years. Ageing of yew trees is very difficult.

What is the lifespan of a yew bush?

Yews are incredibly long lived - in fact they live for around 900 years before they become ancient. That's compared to around 400 years for an oak tree. Ancient yews can then expect to go on thriving for thousands of years.

What happens if you touch yew?

They are known to be poisonous if any part of the plant is ingested. But what happens if you touch the plant? American Yew trees are not poisonous to touch. Touching the surface of American Yew plants with bare hands will not garner much of a reaction unless you have very sensitive skin.

When should you not trim yews?

As a general rule, heavy pruning should not be done after August 15. The reason for this is that trimming stimulates new growth which may not have sufficient time to harden off before the onset of frost and cold weather in the fall.

How far do yew roots spread?

Plant Type:	Evergreen landscape tree or woody shrub	Foliage Color:
Spacing:	12-18 inches (hedging), width of mature spread (specimens)	Soil Drainage:
Planting Depth:	Depth of root system (transplants)	Attracts:
Height:	3-60 feet, depending on species	Uses:
Spread:	6-40 feet, depending on species	Family:

How can I lower my hedge height?

Reduce the height by up to one-third in April. Thin out the side branches, removing selected branches right back to the trunk but leaving the others intact. This will allow more light and air into the area around the hedge. Mulch and feed in spring to encourage vigorous re-growth.

Is it unlucky to cut down a yew tree?

Such was the respect given to the yew tree that it was deemed unlucky to ever cut down a churchyard yew or to cause it any damage to its branches.

Why is the yew tree called the tree of death?

Superstitious monks, he continues, believed that the yew could drive away devils. Its roots, he thought, were poisonous because they will “run and suck nourishment” from the dead, whose flesh is “the rankest poison that could be.”

Can I cut down a yew tree in my garden UK?

Without permission, it's an offence to cut down, uproot or wilfully destroy any trees: subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO)

Do yews have a deep root system?

While the root systems of different yews vary, many have deep, widespread roots that become dense and more difficult to cut as the shrub grows.

Can you shape a yew?

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.

Can yew trees damage foundations?

In most cases, a yew such as you have described will not harm footers/foundations.

How do you prune overgrown yew hedges?

If you have an overgrown yew hedge and you need to reduce its width, cut one side back very hard indeed one winter, right back to the tree trunk in the middle of the hedge and reduce the other side the following year.

Do yews spread?

Size and Appearance. The Dense Spreading Yew is an evergreen bush that grows 3 to 6 inches a year, spreading outwards with undulating branches densely covered in foliage.