The yew is a conifer of superlatives. Excellent shade tolerance, extremely slow growth, biblical longevity and exceptional cut tolerance have brought the coniferous tree the title of tree of the year. Because of its significant toxicity, the yew was named Poisonous Plant of the Year in 2011. If you like the positive properties and are not deterred by the toxic ingredients, the yew enriches your garden as an imposing solitaire, evergreen sculpture, decorative bed edging or opaque hedge. This tutorial explains in detail how to properly approach cutting care.

Most pruning is done before March

Table of Contents

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  1. Types of cuts and dates
  2. Educational cut solitaire
  3. Conservation cut solitaire
  4. Taper cut solitaire
  5. Plant cut hedge
  6. Construction cut hedge
  7. Pruning hedge
  8. Rejuvenation pruning hedge
  9. frequently asked Questions

    10. Eibe cooperates with all types of cutting - options and dates at a glance

    The legendary adaptability of a yew culminates in the fact that it is the only garden conifer from old wood drives out again. This applies equally to the native European yew (Taxus baccata), the mug yew (Taxus media) and all the varieties that have emerged from them. A colorful series of representative cut shapes for the small and large garden invites gardeners to come up with creative design ideas. All options with recommended cutting times are presented in the following table:

    cut type goal/occasion best appointment alternative or additional date
    Educational cut solitaire dense, bushy, harmonious growth late February/early March late June to mid-July
    Conservation cut solitaire if necessary to retain shape, remove dead wood late February/early March late June to mid-July
    Rejuvenation solitaire downsizing or revitalization February to March 1st none
    Plant cut hedge strong branching at the base after planting February of the following year
    Construction cut hedge densely needled trapezoidal hedge February End of June (St. John's Day)
    Form and care cut maintain a neat appearance late June to mid-July mid to late August
    rejuvenation hedge revitalize neglected, over-aged hedge February to March 1st none

    Green garden monument for eternity - this is how you raise a yew tree as a solitaire

    We do not know whether the oldest yew tree in Germany owes its proud age of 1,000 to 1,400 years to skillful pruning. The fact is that the conifer at stability and shapeliness wins when she is granted a moderate build-up cut at a young age. Are you thinking of integrating a yew tree into your garden design as a solitary eye-catcher? Then we recommend the following, successive pruning training:

    • Set up yew as a solitaire with a maximum of 3 dominant, vertical skeletal shoots
    • Every few years, superfluous shoots are diverted to a short, needled side shoot in the lower half of the shoot
    • Either deviate too long, arching overhanging branches or cut them to short cones

    A yew tree with more than 3 erect skeletal shoots develops an uneven habit that is at risk of windbreak. Over time, you will have to complain about the tips of the shoots falling apart. In addition, the outer, densely needled skeleton shoots shade the inside of the plant, so that bare vegetation spreads here. Follow our recommendation for training with 3 dominant skeletal shoots surrounded by shorter side shoots, give your yew a harmonious and stable shape as a solitaire.

    Raise a solitary yew tree with three vertical skeletal shoots. Additional scaffold shoots affect stability if they thrive at the same height. These are diverted to shorter side shoots. Shorten overlong shoots to short cones.

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    Activating sleeping eyes causes yew to sprout from old wood

    For most deciduous trees it is a matter of course, among conifers it is a sensation. We are talking about the ability of a yew tree to diligently sprout again after severe to radical pruning. Yews are the only coniferous species to develop dormant eyes as they grow. Specifically, they are almost invisible buds that have a single task. If branches, twigs or the entire trunk fall victim to storm damage or a radical cut, the dormant vegetation points are activated. The growth that follows replaces the parts of the plant that have been lost and closes gaps that have arisen within the bush or crown.

    An occasional maintenance cut keeps your yew perfectly in shape

    A yew tree at its best does not require annual pruning. The shortening of cheeky branches that protrude from the shape is advantageous for the well-groomed appearance. As illustrated in the figure below, yew branches that are too long are pruned back onto a short side shoot. Thanks to this cutting technique, there are no unsightly gaps in the needle dress. Thin out dead wood to short cones. The best time for the occasional maintenance cut is in February, just before fresh sprouting begins.

    Reach out in time if your yew grows too tall. A cut solitaire loses its natural growth form for many years. Instead, address the longest skeletal shoot with a derivative cut. Choose a promising side shoot in the lower half of the branch. where both shoots fork, cut off the branch that is too long. In the years that follow, your yew will sprout several young branches at the cutting point. Choose the most promising candidate as the new top and remove the remaining shoots.

    In its natural form, the yew grows as a multi-stemmed shrub that does not require annual maintenance pruning. If necessary, you can bring cheeky branches to their raison d’être with a deviating cut and thin out dead wood.

    Rejuvenate old yew in stages - this is how it works

    The most common reason for pruning is when an old yew tree exceeds the available space in terms of width and height. What is impossible with thuja, fir and other conifers, yews tolerate with good-natured pruning tolerance. The most important premise for a successful course is a step-by-step procedure. How to do it right:

    • The best time for each cutting stage is in late winter
    • Cut back a quarter of the longest side shoots on the three vertical trellis shoots each year
    • Shorten side branches to a 2 cm short spigot on the main shoot
    • Strong-growing shoots that compete with the three skeletal shoots are diverted to a lower side branch

    If you have cut back all side branches on the scaffolding to short tenons, devote the last year to adjusting the height. Don't just prune the vertical scaffolding shoots anywhere to the desired height. Select a branch as the starting point for the cut. Place the pruning shears about 2 centimeters behind the fork of the old and young shoots. As a result, the yew is shorter without the horticultural intervention being visible. The figure below shows the correct procedure.

    If the yew grows too much for you, a rejuvenation cut will fix the problem. A gradual reduction is advantageous. Every late winter, cut back a quarter of the side branches along the dominant, vertical trellis shoots to short cones. In the final year, reduce the growth in height by making a derivative cut at the branch tips.

    digression

    Hard yew wood requires resilient cutting tools

    Very slow growth results in one of the hardest woods in the kingdom of trees and shrubs. For cutting care, this means that only high-quality scissors and saws can compete with yew wood. For cutting individual shoots up to 2 centimeters in diameter, the focus is on the anvil one-hand shears because they work with optimized power transmission. In order to cut branches 2 to 4 centimeters thick smoothly and effortlessly, we recommend brand-quality two-handed pruning shears with ratchet gears. Quality cordless shrub shears are a good choice for artistic topiary on yew sculptures. Fine work can be done precisely with stable rose or sheep scissors. If trimming a yew bed edging is on the agenda, a two-hand hedge trimmer (€77.00) should be at hand. You can cut large hedges accurately and quickly with a premium-quality electric hedge trimmer.

    tips

    Whenever you cut your yew tree, please bear in mind the high levels of poison in the shoots, needles and seeds. Wear gloves, goggles, and long-sleeved clothing to protect yourself from the toxic sap. Do not throw clippings on compost or pasture. Horses, cows, sheep and other grazing animals had to pay for the consumption of yew twigs with an agonizing death because careless farmers disposed of the cuttings on meadows.

    Cut yew hedges on the day of planting - instructions for the perfect plant cut

    Traditionally, the yew is at the top of the green wish list when gardeners want to create a long-lasting and easy-care hedge. Whether as an ankle-high bed border, representative grave edging, evergreen room divider or majestic privacy hedge. Yew trees always cut a fine figure as a hedge when pruning begins on the day of planting. So that the conifers branch out bushy from the base to the tip, this pruning is advisable:

    • The best time is immediately after planting in spring
    • The younger the yew trees, the stronger the pruning
    • Prune young trees up to 30 cm high by a third or half
    • Cut back taller hedge plants by 5 to 10 cm at the top and by a third on the sides

    After trimming the plants, sprinkle 100 grams of horn shavings (€32.93) per meter of hedge on the planting strips and water generously. Now spread a thin layer of bark mulch to protect the soil from drying out.

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    Plant pruning directs sap pressure to buds that would otherwise go empty-handed

    Slow growth alone is not enough for a yew hedge to branch out profusely at the base. As it grows, a yew strives towards the light with all its might. Thus, the conifer follows the growth law of peak support. A large part of the reserve substances is transported under pressure to the top buds. Deeper buds will have to make do with what's left. The greater the distance between a bud and the tip of the shoot, the greater the risk that it will go completely empty and not sprout. With a plant cut, the yew is taught better. Since the top buds have to give way, the juice pressure is redistributed. Previously secondary buds at the base of the plant are the new top buds and benefit from a rich supply of nutrients. The growth effect as a result of the plant pruning is permanent, so that your freshly planted yew hedge will thrive with a densely branched base from now on.

    Raising a yew hedge in a trapezoidal shape - this is how you do it right

    Garden newcomers tend to let the new yew hedge grow uncut. In view of the slow growth, every inch of growth should be welcomed with joy. Please do not allow yourself to be misled into this fallacy. Your yew hedge will meet the high expectations in the long term if you gradually build up the conifers. This is how the perfect build-up cut succeeds:

    • The best time is in late winter until the desired final height is reached
    • Optionally blend a second time around St. John's Day (June 24)
    • Strings open as a guide for the straight cut in trapezoidal shape
    • The last year Cut growth back to 5 or 10 centimeters
    • At the summer cut this year Cut growth in half

    Proceed in this way until your yew hedge has reached the desired height. If you enlarge the hedge by a maximum of 10 centimeters each year, there will be enough growth potential for vital, densely bushy branching in all areas. A slight trapezoidal shape is advantageous for the dense needle dress. Hedges with a broad base and a narrow crown thrive in light because the branches do not overshadow each other. For this reason, shoots inside the hedge can also diligently carry out photosynthesis and encourage leaf buds to sprout.

    Always grow conifer hedges in a light-flooded trapezoidal shape. With a broad base and narrow crown, your yew branches cannot shade each other and wear a dense needle dress.

    A summer care cut preserves a well-groomed hedge appearance

    A yew hedge at its final height usually copes well with an annual pruning. The best time is at the end of June. If necessary, trim the hedge one last time for this year in mid-August to slow down growth. The conifers then hardly sprout, so you can look forward to an immaculately maintained hedge well into winter. You should pay attention to this when grooming:

    • On a big hedge marking cords clamp for a conical cutting profile
    • Cut the sides and flanks of the hedge with a view of the uncut area
    • Motorized cutter bar with stretched arms swing back and forth
    • When cutting with manual or electric hedge trimmers, start as close as possible to the previous cuts

    You prevent dents and waves in the cutting pattern when you wield a motorized hedge trimmer with your arms straight. On the sides and flanks, move the device back and forth from your shoulders. Ideally, you cut the crown of the hedge out of the back with pivoting movements.

    Gradually rejuvenate yew hedges - this is how it works

    You can successfully rejuvenate an over-aged, senile or misshapen yew hedge, provided you stages Action. As illustrated in the figure below, you should estimate at least 3 years for the measure. This is how the plan works:

    • The best time for each stage is in late winter until March 1st (according to the Federal Nature Conservation Act)
    • First year: Cut back one side of the hedge and one flank down to short pegs on the frame
    • Second year: Prune the crown of the hedge to within 50 cm of the target final height
    • Third year: trim the second side of the hedge with flanks, except for small stumps of shoots on the frame

    The gradual approach means that after each radial cut, a sufficient volume of needles remains for the formation of reserve substances that stimulate fresh shoots. In the fourth year after the beginning of the rejuvenation, the cut care leads to a gradual build-up, as explained in this tutorial.

    To rejuvenate an old yew hedge, proceed in stages. In the first year, trim one side down to short tenons on the framework. In the second year you devote yourself to the top of the hedge with a strong pruning. In the third year, the rejuvenation of the second side of the hedge is on the cutting plan.

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    A look at the calendar gives the green light for the makeover cut - or not

    Bird protection is a priority when rejuvenating yew hedges. The primacy of feathered garden dwellers is expressed in Paragraph 39 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act. It reads that radical cuts on trees and shrubs of all kinds are limited to the period from October 1st to February 28th. This applies equally to measures such as thinning out, putting on the stick and rejuvenating. Before you start revitalizing your yew hedge, please take a look at the calendar. During the grace period from March 1st to September 30th, scissors and saws should rest. Old yew trees can wait until winter. For a young bird family in dense branches there is no such waiting period.

    frequently asked Questions

    I would like to grow a columnar yew in a bucket on the terrace. What pot size do you recommend if I start with an 80 cm plant? Will the roots adapt or does the pot have to grow with it?

    The yew variety Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata Robusta' is ideal for keeping in tubs. Please use a pot that is 20 to 25 centimeters larger in diameter than the shipping container or root ball. Over the years, the substrate becomes very solid and requires large amounts of irrigation water. This is a signal that the soil and pot are completely rooted by the root ball. In this case, please repot the yew into a larger bucket. The best time is between October and March, when the conifers are dormant.

    We would like to surround our terrace (natural stone slabs with gravel bed) with a 100 to 150 cm high hedge. Is the bordering yew 'Hillii' suitable for this or is there a risk that root strands will lift the terrace slabs?

    Yews thrive as shallow roots.Only in sandy soil do deep sinker roots form. In the course of time, it is quite possible that your terrace slabs will be raised a little by a yew hedge. You can effectively prevent damage by placing lawn curbs between the terrace and the hedge that reach a depth of at least 40 centimetres. In addition, we recommend a planting distance of 50 centimeters from the curbs.

    How small can a yew border hedge be kept?

    If you use varieties such as Taxus media 'Hillii' (without poisonous cones) or 'Hicksii' (with poisonous, red-fleshed cones) for the hedge planting, a height of 30 to 40 centimeters is quite realistic. This is possible thanks to the robust pruning tolerance of all yew species and varieties. Cut in February and again on St. John's Day, at the end of June, so that the edging remains at the desired height.

    When is the best time to prune a newly planted yew hedge? The long side shoots of the young plants intertwine. Should the yews also be pruned in the middle where the branches of neighboring plants cross?

    Ideally, you should cut the plants on the day of planting. You can complete subsequent topiary cuts several times a year. It is important to note that you do not cut in frost, great heat or summer drought. The pruning of a young yew hedge concentrates on the outer area, the so-called "coat". The gaps are spared from pruning. Interlocking, long shoots are desirable for dense, opaque growth.

    I would like to arrange some spots of color on the root disc of my yew trees. Which plants are recommended as underplanting?

    The yew penetrates the topsoil intensively with its shallow root system. At the same time, yews primarily thrive in poorly lit locations with fresh to moist soil. Consequently, an underplanting must be tough. Funkias (Hosta) are the ideal candidates for floral foot traffic. Purple bells (Heuchera) are just as magnificent with their pretty leaves. For decorative blooms, shade-tolerant elfin flowers (Epimedium) are a good choice.

    As part of the redesign of my garden, I plan to plant a yew hedge in front of a thuja hedge that has yet to be cleared. For this purpose, the largely dead thujas are sawn off at ground level and should remain in the ground. At what distance should the yew hedge be placed so that the trees do not conflict with the old roots?

    Please assume that the Thuja hedge has withdrawn a large part of the nutrients from the surrounding soil. We recommend a minimum distance of 100 centimeters between the yew hedge and the root stumps. To compensate for the lack of nutrients in the soil, dig the planting pits for your yew trees a third larger than normal. Fill the holes with fresh potting soil to provide the young trees with the good soil they need for vital rooting. After planting, perform the planting pruning that this tutorial recommends.

    The 3 most common cutting mistakes

    If a yew tree stands out due to its misshapen growth, offers little privacy as a hedge or no longer sprout after a rejuvenation cut, the gardener has made a pruning mistake. In order to protect the readers of this tutorial from misunderstandings, the following table contains the most common cutting errors and provides tips for effective prevention:

    cutting error damage picture prevention
    no training cut on the solitaire uneven growth, low stability, risk of wind damage grow solitary yew step by step with 3 skeletal shoots
    Hedge without planting and trimming below bare hedge, low privacy in the lower half of the hedge Cut the yew hedge on the day of planting, build it up slowly in the following years
    Yew hedge set on the stick in one go little or no growth from the rootstock for many years rejuvenate old yew hedge in three stages
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    tips

    With the yew a magical tree finds its way into your garden. As early as the Neolithic Age, yew wood was used to make everyday objects such as plates, spoons and bowls. The legendary glacier mummy of the Ötztal Alps - called Ötzi - carried a longbow made of yew wood around 5000 years ago. From the Middle Ages to modern times, longbows made of yew wood are considered stable, durable and accurate.

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Trees