The dark green yew is a popular coniferous tree. That's because she thrives handsomely in almost any location. Each variety develops differently when growing freely. Some grow into a multi-stemmed shrub or even a large, spreading tree. Others rise up into the sky like a pillar or remain a small bush. But we can shape them all to our liking. With the skillful use of scissors. For example to yew hedges.
cutting yew
Care should be taken when cutting coniferous trees. If you penetrate too deep into the old wood, the expected new growth may not occur. Bald spots are the result, which are then no longer closed or only closed again after years. This conifer takes away these worries. It is one of the few conifers in the home garden that willingly sprout even from old wood. However, you should not overdo it. Only cut vigorously when it is unavoidable. This does not apply to bushy yew trees with a large number of densely packed vertical skeletal shoots. Here, skeletal shoots can be boldly diverted to young shoots.
Appropriate cutting tool
Whenever you trim your conifers, use only sharp hedge trimmers. This creates clean interfaces that can heal quickly. The risk of infection, which always exists when cutting, is minimized in this way. Smaller specimens can easily be trimmed with pruning shears. However, thick branches can only be cut through with a saw. Electric hedge trimmers are more practical for large yew hedges. Disinfect the tool before and after cutting.
Since hedges grow up to 2 m high, using a sturdy and stable ladder is important for your safety.
tip: A pair of gloves is a must when cutting a yew tree. Direct skin contact with their toxic ingredients can cause irritation in sensitive people.
Taxus baccata, Yew
time
Spring is the best time for a yew tree, bot. Taxus to cut. This applies to free-standing individual specimens and also to yew hedges.
- the months of March to June are considered suitable
- the ideal time is just before the plant starts to sprout again
- never cut in midsummer
- cut on frost-free but not sunny days
If a yew tree or yew hedge is cut in summer, the needles near the cuts will turn brown. This is not harmful to the tree. However, this affects the beautiful appearance for a longer period of time.
tip: If necessary, a second cut can be made in September to slow down vigorous budding.
education cut
The educational pruning serves to build up supporting scaffolding shoots. These should ensure that the wood grows evenly and forms a dense needle dress. Which shoots are selected and their number depends on the particular yew variety. The course must also be set for the shape in which we want the conifers to be pruned.
- Educate upright growing yew trees with three scaffold shoots
- redirect the remaining vertical shoots
- on lower side shoots
- also redirect overly long side shoots
- each on shorter side shoots
In the case of shrub-like varieties, shoots that are too long are not shortened, but removed from the skeletal shoot, except for the cones. This will control the desired width and depth of the shrub.
notice: If you raise upright yew trees with too many skeletal shoots, they will only be needled on one side due to the lack of light. Over time, this imbalance causes branches to tip unattractively to the side and the plant to lose its shape.
Instructions for a pillar yew
Yew trees standing as solitaires look particularly decorative when they have a columnar shape. These specimens are also raised with three scaffold drives. The strongest vertical shoots should be selected for this. All excess vertical shoots are diverted to lower-lying side shoots in good time. This gives all shoots enough light to form needles all around. The tree is balanced and retains its columnar shape for years. Shorten the length of the vertical shoots in stages. So that the middle is highest while remaining slim.
tip: In old age, when the shoot tips fall apart under the weight of snow, redirect them to a lower vertical side shoot.
Instructions for yew hedges
Yew hedges are fast-growing, prunable and hardy. Such a hedge is an ideal green replacement fence at the property line. As an evergreen tree, it should also protect the residents of the property from prying eyes. To do this, it must grow consistently dense. That is why an early training cut is indispensable for her. You can go for a simple square shape or bevel the sides. The following pruning rules apply to the hedge:
- the more often it is cut, the more compact it grows
- Cut at least twice a year for beautiful yew hedges
- between May and June and August and September
- also possible all year round, but only on frost-free days
- an electric hedge trimmer ensures an even cut
- Cut the hedge narrower towards the top
- in this way enough light also reaches the lower parts
notice: As beautiful as yew hedges are, all parts of them are poisonous. Therefore, question the planting of this conifer on a property where there are small children and pets.
Instructions for maintenance cuts
If the basic form is given by the correct training cut, the Taxus usually continue to grow within the given framework. Therefore, annual maintenance cuts are not mandatory. Nevertheless, the yew shows a good growth rate with an annual increase of about 25 cm. One or the other branch can break out of the mold. A hedge in particular has to be cut back to its original shape again and again. For solitary trees, you can proceed as follows:
- overlong shoots are deflected
- in each case on a side shoot further down
- if the growth is too high, also redirect the highest shoot
- several young shoots will form at the interface
- slim these down to one
- deflect upward growing shoots of creeping yew trees
- on flat-growing side shoots
taper cut
Over the years, yew trees can grow very large. However, they can be rejuvenated with a suitable pruning technique. The rejuvenation cut should be spread over several years.
- the best time is in spring
- right before new growth
- Shorten a quarter of the longest horizontal shoots
- each on 2 cm pegs on the vertical scaffold drive
- in the following years shorten a further quarter in this way
- long scaffold drives are diverted if necessary
The step-by-step cutting ensures that the plant always keeps part of its needles. In this way, it can form the necessary energy reserves.
Cephalotaxus, head yews
tip: A radical cut would also be possible, but it costs the plant a lot of strength. In addition, it takes quite a long time for the yew to sprout so that it has a nice, dense shape again.
Cut yew into a ball
The yew can also be cut into a ball. This form is particularly popular in pot cultivation. The younger the plant is, the better and faster it can be brought into such a strict geometric shape. But a really round and even ball is hardly possible freehand.
- make a template out of plywood
- it gives orientation when cutting back
- Garden stores already offer ready-made stencils
In order for this special geometric figure to retain its clear contours, you should prune the yew twice a year. At any time between the two cuts, protruding branches may be shortened.
tip: You are welcome to let your imagination run wild and elicit a different shape from the yew tree. It is best to feel your way forward piece by piece. Wrong cuts cannot be corrected so quickly.
Relationship between pruning and flowering
The female yew can bear decorative red fruits in autumn, which stand out in contrast to the green background of needles. The red encapsulation is harmless, while the seeds hidden inside are poisonous to us humans and our pets. Birds, however, seem to regard them as a delicacy. You can do something good with it. So decide for yourself whether you want your yew to bloom. The timing of the cutting measures has an influence on this. However, there are male and female specimens of Taxus.
- female yews bloom on new shoots
- male yews put on the flowers already in autumn
Whether your yew flowers will depend on when you prune them. Female yews only flower if the cut was made before sprouting. If it is cut afterwards, the flowers are also removed. Male yews may only be pruned until late summer when they are to flower.
Yew with yew fruit