Yew shrubs (Taxus) are valued in landscaping for their dense, dark-green foliage and versatility. These evergreens can be shaped into formal hedges, intricate topiary, or large, natural screens. Regular trimming is necessary to maintain the shrub’s shape, control its size, and promote lush, full growth. Pruning encourages the development of new, smaller branches, resulting in a denser and healthier plant structure over time.
Timing and Essential Equipment
The best time for routine maintenance trimming is typically in late spring or early summer, after the initial flush of new growth has hardened off. Pruning during this period allows the shrub to recover quickly while the growing season is active. Avoid significant cutting after mid-summer (past mid-August), because trimming stimulates new growth that will not have time to mature before the first hard frost.
This tender, late-season growth is susceptible to winter burn and damage, leaving the shrub brown and unsightly until spring. Essential tools include sharp hand pruners for precision cuts on individual branches and hedge shears or an electric trimmer for shaping large, flat surfaces. For thicker, interior branches that need removal, loppers provide the necessary leverage for a clean cut.
Yew contains taxine alkaloids, which are toxic if ingested; every part of the plant, except the fleshy red aril surrounding the seed, is poisonous. Always wear protective gloves and long sleeves when handling clippings and be sure to wash hands and tools thoroughly after the work is complete. Proper disposal of trimmings is a safety measure, especially in areas accessible to pets or livestock.
Technique for Routine Maintenance Trimming
When performing annual maintenance, the goal is to remove the current season’s growth to stimulate branching and maintain the desired outline. Focus on shearing the soft, green tips of the new growth, which encourages the shrub to become thicker and fuller. Remove no more than one-third of the shrub’s total volume in a single session to avoid stressing the plant.
The most effective technique for maintaining a dense yew involves shaping it into a slight A-frame, with the base noticeably wider than the top. This tapered shape ensures sunlight reaches the lower branches, preventing the lower foliage from becoming sparse and brown due to being shaded out. Cutting the top narrower than the bottom maintains the health and density of the entire shrub.
For individual branches extending beyond the desired shape, make a heading cut just above a healthy bud or a lateral branch growing in the desired direction. This cut redirects the plant’s energy to the remaining bud, promoting new, dense growth exactly where it is needed. Avoid shearing so deeply that you cut into the old, brown, leafless wood during routine maintenance, as yews are slower to generate new foliage from this older section.
Addressing Overgrown Yew Shrubs
When a yew is significantly overgrown, too wide, or sparse due to neglect, a severe reduction, known as rejuvenation pruning, is required. Unlike many conifers, yews reliably sprout new growth from old, woody stems, making this hard pruning successful. This severe cutting should be scheduled for late winter or very early spring before new buds begin to swell.
To rejuvenate an overgrown yew, safely cut back large, old branches to within six to twelve inches of the ground or the main trunk. This drastic action removes the bulk of the shrub, allowing it to restart growth from the base. It is recommended to stagger this severe pruning over two to three years, tackling only one side of a hedge or one-third of a specimen plant each year, to reduce shock to the root system.
After a severe reduction, the shrub will look bare and skeletal, and recovery is a slow process. It can take one to two full growing seasons for new needles to emerge and cover the old wood, with the shrub regaining its dense appearance by the third year. To assist recovery, ensure the plant receives adequate water throughout the growing season and apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in the spring to provide the nutrients necessary for vigorous new growth.