Water well through the first two summers — slow to establish, but very long-lived and forgiving once settled.
Care
Notably shade-tolerant for a plant so often clipped into formal, sun-exposed shapes.
Drought-tolerant once established.
Adaptable, well-drained soil; tolerates chalky/alkaline ground well; dislikes permanent waterlogging.
Clip 1-2 times through the growing season (traditionally around late summer) for a crisp formal shape; tolerates hard renovation cutting back into old wood better than most conifers.
A balanced feed in spring for a clipped hedge, which is repeatedly asked to regrow; a free-standing yew in decent soil needs nothing. Yew is slow by nature and feeding will not make it much faster.
Semi-ripe cuttings in early autumn, taken with a heel, in a cold frame — slow but dependable, and they root over winter. For an upright hedge take cuttings from upright shoots: a cutting from a side branch grows sideways for years.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- AprilLight feed as growth resumes. how ›
- AugustMain clip of the year, traditionally in late summer. how ›
- NovemberCheck clipped shapes after snow; brush off heavy snow to prevent the shape splaying. how ›
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilLight feed as growth resumes. how ›
- AugustMain clip of the year, traditionally in late summer. how ›
- NovemberCheck clipped shapes after snow; brush off heavy snow to prevent the shape splaying. how ›
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. All parts are poisonous if ingested.
What to do. Keep clippings away from grazing animals, and be mindful with young children and pets.
How to spot it. Wilting, dieback in waterlogged soil.
What to do. Improve drainage; avoid planting in a site prone to standing water.
Popular varieties
Questions
Yew: is it hardy?
H7: Fully hardy anywhere in the UK. It survives below −20 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
A classic, reliable choice for clipped topiary in pots.
Yew: when do you prune it?
Clip 1-2 times through the growing season (traditionally around late summer) for a crisp formal shape; tolerates hard renovation cutting back into old wood better than most conifers. In the calendar for UK, pruning falls in August.
When do you feed it?
A balanced feed in spring for a clipped hedge, which is repeatedly asked to regrow; a free-standing yew in decent soil needs nothing. Yew is slow by nature and feeding will not make it much faster. Feeding months, UK: April.