- Yellow yew needles are not caused by disease
- An unfavorable location
- Pests on the yew cause yellow needles
The yew is a native, very hardy tree that rarely suffers from diseases and even more rarely from fungal attack. If yellow needles appear on the yew, either pests or an unfavorable location are responsible for this. How can you prevent yellow needles on the yew tree?
Yellow tips can have very different causes
Yellow yew needles are not caused by disease
If the yew gets needles that also fall off, it is usually not a disease that is to blame, but an unfavorable location or an infestation by pests, more rarely by fungi.
Needle discoloration can usually be prevented if you grow the yew tree in a favorable location and take proper care of it. Well cared for yew trees can also cope well with pest infestation.
An unfavorable location
Yews tolerate any location, even shade or direct sun. However, this only applies to older trees. Young yew trees suffer from strong sunlight and react with yellow or brown needles. This also happens in winter when the winter sun falls directly on the needles.
Therefore, when planting, ensure an ideal location where the young plant is sufficiently shaded over midday.
The yellow needles caused by a bad location do not look pretty, but they are not dangerous for the tree. The needles will be green again by next year at the latest.
Pests on the yew cause yellow needles
Yellow needles can also be caused by pests. Not very often but occasionally the scale insect can be found on the yew. It is difficult to see with the naked eye. If ant trails run up the tree, an infestation is likely.
If you suspect a scale insect infestation on the yew tree, take the following countermeasures:
- Interrupting the ant trails
- cut off affected branches
- use parasitic wasps (€22.99) if necessary
- Insecticides are not effective!
Scale insects have a strong shell that chemical agents cannot penetrate. It is therefore better to use biological agents such as parasitic wasps.
tips
In winter, you should water yew trees on frost-free days when it has been dry for a long time. They suffer from excessive drought, especially when the trees are very young and the roots are not yet so deep in the ground.