What Are Yew Bushes?
Yew bushes are part of the Taxaceae family, which includes both trees and shrubs. The yew genus contains several species, but the most commonly grown variety in gardens is the English Yew (Taxus baccata), along with other species like the Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata) and Canadian Yew (Taxus canadensis). While these plants may look similar, they can vary in size, shape, and growth habits, making it essential to choose the right variety for your garden’s needs.
Features of Yew Bushes
Yew bushes are known for their evergreen foliage, making them an excellent choice for year-round greenery. Their needles are dark green and soft to the touch, giving them a lush, vibrant appearance. The plant also produces small, red berries in the fall, which add an attractive touch to the shrub.
One of the most striking features of yews is their ability to tolerate a range of growing conditions. They are drought-tolerant, can grow in partial to full shade, and even thrive in poor soil. However, they do best in well-draining, slightly acidic soil.
The Benefits of Yew Bushes
- Privacy and Screening: Yew bushes are commonly used to create hedges or screens, providing privacy and shelter from the wind. Their dense foliage makes them ideal for blocking views or hiding unsightly areas of the garden.
- Low Maintenance: Once established, yew bushes require minimal care. They’re pest-resistant, drought-tolerant, and can grow in a variety of soil conditions.
- Evergreen Foliage: Yews retain their foliage year-round, which means they provide greenery even in the dead of winter when many other plants are dormant.
- Versatility: Yew bushes can be used for formal hedges, topiary, or even as specimen plants in the garden. Their slow growth rate and easy pruning make them ideal for shaping into different forms.
Choosing the Right Yew Bush for Your Garden
1. English Yew (Taxus baccata)
English Yew is one of the most well-known and widely planted yew species. Its versatility and slow growth make it a favorite for formal gardens, privacy hedges, and topiary. With a classic, elegant appearance, English Yew is perfect for those looking to create a refined, structured look in their landscape.
Growth Habit
Upright and Columnar: English Yews have an upright growth habit, making them ideal for formal hedges and as vertical accents. Over time, they can grow quite tall, forming dense, thick hedges with a refined, uniform shape.
Size
- Height: Up to 20 feet tall.
- Width: Can spread up to 15 feet wide.
Ideal Use
- Formal Hedges: English Yews are commonly used for creating privacy hedges in gardens or along property lines.
- Topiary: With their slow growth rate and dense foliage, they are well-suited for shaping into topiary and ornamental designs.
- Privacy Screens: Their height and dense foliage make them perfect for screening off certain areas of your garden or for blocking out unwanted views.
Hardiness Zone
Hardiness Zone: 4 to 7, making it suitable for temperate climates.
Additional Notes
English Yews are highly adaptable and can tolerate a wide range of soil types. However, they prefer well-draining, slightly acidic soil and benefit from partial to full sun for optimal growth.
2. Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata)
The Japanese Yew is a favorite among gardeners due to its compact size, bushy form, and adaptability to a variety of growing conditions. This variety is particularly useful in smaller gardens or for creating low hedges or foundation plantings.
Growth Habit
Bushy and Spreading: Japanese Yews tend to spread more than grow upright. Their bushy form makes them ideal for informal hedges or groundcover.
Size
- Height: Typically reaches 10 feet tall.
- Width: Spreads to about 12 feet wide.
Ideal Use
- Low Hedges: The spreading nature of Japanese Yews makes them great for forming low hedges that offer both privacy and structure.
- Foundation Plantings: Their compact size makes them well-suited for planting around the foundation of homes or buildings.
- Groundcover: Japanese Yews can also work well as groundcover plants, especially in shaded or partially shaded areas.
Hardiness Zone
Hardiness Zone: 4 to 7, making them suitable for cooler climates with cold winters.
Additional Notes
Japanese Yews are relatively easy to maintain and require minimal pruning. They can tolerate partial shade, making them an excellent choice for areas with limited sunlight.
3. Canadian Yew (Taxus canadensis)
The Canadian Yew is a dwarf variety that stands out due to its ability to thrive in shaded areas and limited space. If you’re looking for a yew to create groundcover, low hedges, or to plant in the shadow of larger trees, this is an excellent option.
Growth Habit
Compact and Spreading: The Canadian Yew has a dense, spreading habit that works well as groundcover or a low hedge.
Size
- Height: Typically grows to 3 to 5 feet tall.
- Width: Spreads 3 to 5 feet wide, making it perfect for tight spaces.
Ideal Use
- Groundcover: Canadian Yews are ideal for planting under taller trees or along shaded borders. They can help reduce weeds and create a dense, green carpet.
- Low Hedges: Perfect for low-growing hedges that don’t overpower the landscape, making them a good fit for front yards or smaller garden spaces.
- Shaded Areas: This variety thrives in shaded areas where other shrubs might struggle, making it perfect for forested or tree-lined gardens.
Hardiness Zone
Hardiness Zone: 3 to 7, which makes it one of the more cold-hardy yew species, suitable for regions with harsh winters.
Additional Notes
Canadian Yews prefer slightly acidic, well-draining soil and can tolerate heavy shade, making them perfect for woodland gardens. They also have a relatively slow growth rate, which is ideal for gardeners looking for low-maintenance groundcover.
4. Hicks Yew (Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’)
The Hicks Yew is a hybrid of the English Yew and Japanese Yew, and it brings together the best characteristics of both species. With its columnar growth habit, it’s perfect for narrow spaces, vertical accents, or as a privacy screen.
Growth Habit
Columnar and Upright: Hicks Yew has a tall, narrow form that makes it perfect for tight spaces or vertical designs. It grows upwards rather than outwards, making it an excellent choice for garden corners, along fences, or as a screen.
Size
- Height: Can reach up to 12 feet tall.
- Width: Typically grows to 4 feet wide, making it an excellent option for narrow areas.
Ideal Use
- Narrow Spaces: The compact size of Hicks Yew makes it perfect for areas where horizontal space is limited but you still want a tall, lush shrub.
- Vertical Accents: If you’re looking to create a vertical accent or statement piece in your garden, this variety is ideal for that purpose.
- Privacy Screens: Hicks Yew’s dense foliage and upright growth make it a great choice for creating a privacy screen, even in small gardens.
Hardiness Zone
Hardiness Zone: 4 to 7, suitable for most temperate climates.
Additional Notes
Hicks Yews are particularly useful for urban environments where space is limited. They adapt well to various soil types, including clay, and perform well in both sun and partial shade.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Yew Bush
1. Size and Growth Habit
Yew bushes vary significantly in terms of size, from small ground covers to tall hedges. Some varieties have an upright, columnar growth habit, while others are more spreading and bushy. The overall size of the yew bush will influence where you plant it and how it fits into your landscape design.
- Upright or Columnar Yews: These yews are perfect for narrow spaces, vertical accents, and creating privacy screens. They grow taller than they do wide, allowing them to fit in tight spots.
- Spreading or Bushy Yews: These yews tend to spread out, making them ideal for foundation plantings, ground covers, or informal hedges.
2. Hardiness Zone
Yew bushes are versatile in terms of their hardiness and can thrive in a range of climates. However, it’s important to select a variety suited to your USDA Hardiness Zone. Most yew species fall between Zones 3 and 7, with some more cold-hardy varieties perfect for northern climates.
3. Sun and Shade Requirements
Yews are relatively shade-tolerant and can grow in partial to full shade. However, some varieties may prefer more sunlight for optimal growth, so it’s important to know your garden’s light conditions before planting. If your garden has shady spots, certain yews will thrive and provide greenery even where other plants might struggle.
How to Plant Yew Bushes
Planting yew bushes is relatively straightforward, but it’s essential to choose the right location and prepare the soil properly. Follow these steps for successful planting:
1. Choose the Right Location
Selecting the ideal location for your yew bush is the first step in the planting process. Yew bushes are quite adaptable, making them suitable for various garden environments, but they do have specific preferences that can help them flourish.
Sunlight Requirements
Yew bushes can tolerate a range of light conditions, from full sun to partial shade. However, for optimal growth:
- Morning Sun and Afternoon Shade: Yews thrive best when they get morning sunlight and are shaded from the hot afternoon sun. This is especially beneficial in warmer climates, where the afternoon sun can become too harsh.
- Partial Shade: Yews are particularly well-suited for shady or woodland areas. They can tolerate partial shade, which makes them an excellent option for planting under trees or in gardens with limited sunlight.
- Full Sun: While yews can grow in full sun, they may require more water and attention during dry periods to prevent dehydration. In full sun, yews also may require regular watering to keep the soil moist.
Soil Conditions
Yew bushes are adaptable to different soil types but grow best in:
- Well-drained soil: Yews need soil that drains well, as they do not do well in waterlogged conditions. Avoid planting them in areas with heavy, compacted clay soil, as it can cause root rot. If your soil is dense, you can improve drainage by adding organic matter like compost or peat moss.
- Slightly acidic to neutral pH: Yews prefer soil that is slightly acidic to neutral, ideally with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. It’s worth testing the soil’s pH before planting to ensure it meets this requirement.
Drought Tolerance
While yew bushes are somewhat drought-tolerant once established, they grow best with regular moisture, particularly during the first few years. If you’re planting yews in an area with dry spells, be sure to keep the soil consistently moist until the bush is fully established.
2. Prepare the Soil
Proper soil preparation is crucial to ensuring the health of your yew bush. Even though yews are adaptable, they will perform better in soil that’s been amended to provide good drainage and adequate nutrients.
Improving Drainage
If your soil is heavy and prone to water retention, it’s important to loosen it up to allow for proper drainage. Here’s how to do it:
- Amend with organic matter: Mix in compost, peat moss, or well-rotted manure to enrich the soil and enhance drainage. This will also improve the soil structure, making it more conducive to healthy root growth.
- Sand or perlite: If the soil is very dense, you can incorporate sand or perlite to further loosen the soil, promoting better water flow and preventing root rot.
Fertilizing
Yews don’t require overly rich soil, but adding a balanced, slow-release fertilizer to the soil before planting can give the plant a healthy start. Look for fertilizers labeled for evergreen shrubs or trees. Apply the fertilizer in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, generally working it into the soil before planting.
Checking Soil pH
Before planting, it’s a good idea to test the soil’s pH level. If the soil is too alkaline, you can lower the pH by adding sulfur or organic matter like pine needles. On the other hand, if your soil is too acidic, you can raise the pH by adding lime.
3. Dig the Planting Hole
Once you’ve prepared the soil, it’s time to dig the hole for your yew bush. The size and depth of the hole are important to allow for proper root development.
Hole Size
- Width: The hole should be twice as wide as the root ball of your yew bush. This gives the roots plenty of room to spread out and establish themselves in the surrounding soil. Even though the hole should be wide, you don’t need to dig it excessively deep.
- Depth: The hole should be deep enough that the root ball is sitting level with the surrounding soil. If the hole is too deep, the plant will be buried too low, and if it’s too shallow, the roots may be exposed to the surface, leading to water stress and drying out.
Hole Preparation
Once you’ve dug the hole, break up the sides with a spade or shovel to ensure the roots can penetrate the surrounding soil easily. This is especially important if you’re planting in heavy or compacted soil. If the soil is loose and well-drained, you can skip this step.
4. Plant the Yew
Now that the hole is ready, it’s time to plant your yew bush. Follow these steps carefully for successful planting.
Unpack the Yew Bush
- Remove from container: Gently take the yew bush out of its pot, being careful not to disturb the roots too much. If the roots are circling around the inside of the pot, carefully tease them out with your fingers to encourage them to spread into the soil.
- Check the root ball: If the yew is balled and burlapped (root ball wrapped in burlap), you can leave the burlap in place, but make sure to remove any twine or wire to prevent it from constricting the roots as the plant grows.
Position the Yew Bush
- Place in hole: Set the yew bush in the hole so that the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil. Avoid planting the yew too deep, as this can cause suffocation of the roots.
- Check orientation: If your yew bush has a natural front or a preferred growing direction, make sure to position it facing the right way in your landscape. This is especially important for ornamental yews used in topiary or as focal points.
Backfill the Hole
- Fill the hole with soil: Gently backfill the hole with the soil you removed earlier. Tamp the soil down lightly to remove air pockets, but don’t compact it too much. The roots need to breathe and penetrate the soil easily.
- Water thoroughly: After backfilling, give the plant a thorough watering to help settle the soil and remove any remaining air pockets around the roots. This ensures good contact between the roots and the surrounding soil.
5. Mulch and Water
Proper mulching and watering are key to establishing healthy yew bushes and ensuring they thrive in their new home.
Apply Mulch
- Mulching: Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch around the base of the plant. Mulch helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Organic mulch like bark or wood chips is a good option, but avoid piling mulch directly against the stem of the bush to prevent rot.
Watering
- Initial watering: After planting, water the yew bush thoroughly to help settle the soil and establish the roots. Be sure to water deeply enough to saturate the entire root zone.
- Ongoing watering: During the first growing season, keep the soil consistently moist, especially during dry spells. Yews prefer moist but well-drained soil, so make sure not to let the soil dry out completely.
- Avoid overwatering: While yews need moisture, they don’t like standing water. Ensure the soil drains well to prevent waterlogged roots.
Final Tips for Planting Yew Bushes
- Spacing: When planting multiple yews, make sure to space them appropriately. Most yew varieties require 3 to 6 feet of space between plants, depending on their expected size.
- Pruning: Once your yew bush is established, you can begin to shape it as needed. Yews tolerate pruning well and can be shaped into hedges, topiary, or informal forms.
- Watch for pests: Keep an eye out for common pests like aphids or scale insects, especially when the plant is young and establishing itself.
By following these steps and taking care to plant your yew bush in the right location, you’ll be setting the stage for a healthy, beautiful shrub that will thrive for years to come.
Caring for Yew Bushes
Once planted, yew bushes are low-maintenance, but they do require some care to thrive. Here are some key aspects of yew bush care:
1. Pruning Yew Bushes
Pruning is one of the most important tasks when caring for yew bushes. Since yews grow slowly, you can shape them as needed without worrying about rapid overgrowth. Prune your yew bush during the late winter or early spring, just before new growth begins.
To shape the bush, simply trim back the longer branches and remove any dead or damaged wood. For hedges, prune to maintain a clean, uniform shape.
2. Fertilizing Yew Bushes
Yew bushes don’t require a lot of fertilizer, but applying a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring can help promote healthy growth. Be careful not to over-fertilize, as this can cause the bush to become leggy and lose its compact form.
3. Watering
While yews are drought-tolerant, they still need regular watering, especially during dry spells. Water the plant deeply at the base, ensuring the roots get adequate moisture. Avoid overhead watering, as this can lead to disease problems.
4. Protecting Yew Bushes from Pests and Diseases
Yew bushes are generally resistant to pests and diseases, but they can occasionally be affected by root rot, scale insects, and aphids. If you notice any signs of disease or pests, treat the plant with appropriate measures such as pruning away affected areas or using insecticidal soap.
Common Problems with Yew Bushes
While yew bushes are relatively problem-free, there are a few common issues to keep in mind:
1. Yellowing Leaves
Yellowing leaves can be a sign of poor soil drainage, nutrient deficiencies, or pests. If the soil is too wet or too dry, the plant may exhibit yellowing foliage. Check the soil conditions and adjust watering practices as needed.
2. Root Rot
Overwatering or poor drainage can lead to root rot. If you notice wilting or yellowing leaves despite adequate watering, check the roots for signs of rot. To avoid this issue, ensure your soil drains well and doesn’t stay soggy.
3. Pests
Yew bushes can occasionally attract scale insects, aphids, or spider mites. Regularly inspect your plants for signs of pest infestations. If you find pests, treat them with an insecticidal soap or an organic solution like neem oil.
Final Words
Yew bushes are a wonderful addition to any garden. Their evergreen foliage, low maintenance requirements, and versatility make them ideal for creating privacy screens, hedges, and specimen plants. With proper care and attention, these hardy shrubs can thrive in a range of conditions, offering beauty and functionality year-round.
Whether you’re looking to enhance the structure of your garden, provide a natural windbreak, or add a touch of elegance, yew bushes are a fantastic choice. By understanding their needs and providing the right care, you’ll be able to enjoy the beauty of yew bushes for years to come.