Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
When to Prune a Taxus Yew
When to Prune a Taxus Yew. Taxus is the scientific name for the more commonly known yew trees and shrubs. The plants are evergreen conifers with dark-green needles and cup-shaped, red berries on the female trees. Taxus plants or yews are widely used as screens and hedges given their dense growth. Yews do not thrive in regions with very hot and dry...
Taxus is the scientific name for the more commonly known yew trees and shrubs. The plants are evergreen conifers with dark-green needles and cup-shaped, red berries on the female trees. Taxus plants or yews are widely used as screens and hedges given their dense growth. Yews do not thrive in regions with very hot and dry weather. Yews benefit from pruning done at a certain time of year.
Pruning Time
Taxus trees naturally have distinctive growth habits and do not require excessive pruning to maintain shape. Pruning is done to reduce the size, such as with yew hedges. This is a regular, light pruning done anywhere between early spring to the middle of summer, as suggested by Duncan Coombs in "The Complete Book of Pruning." Iowa State University Extension recommends pruning yew shrubs before new growth begins, as recommended by the Iowa State University Extension.
Pruning Methods
When pruning yew shrubs with upright growth forms, thin the branches by making cuts underneath the overhanging plant foliage. Shape the plant with a general tapering from top to bottom. If the yew has a naturally spreading form, create more emphasis on the plant's naturally shingled look. In order to maintain the taxus yew hedge's compact look, shear away the new summer growth during early spring.
Times to Avoid
It is best not to prune evergreen conifers such as Taxus yew during late summer or early fall. Late season pruning encourages the trees or shrub to produce succulent, new growth that does have enough time to harden off or mature before the cold season. This new growth becomes prone to cold and frost damage, as cited by the Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Exceptions
There are certain times when yews require corrective pruning. This situation arises when branches are diseased, have pest infestations or damaged beyond repair. Prune to remove sick or damaged plant areas at any time of the year. This keeps the disease or pests from spreading to other tree areas. When removing sick plant areas, make the cut several inches below infected wood and disinfect pruning tools between cuts.
