Hicks Yew For Sale Ontario? The 230 Detailed Answer

description

Hicks Yew

General information

Hicks Yew is an evergreen shrub. It can grow quite large, up to 12 feet tall. Like most yew trees, it grows a little slowly, so it may take a while to reach this height. Overall it grows narrow and very upright. The Hicks Yew makes an excellent hedge or other landscaping purpose. The needles grow densely and are typically soft to the touch. They are dark green in color and have a beautiful glossy appearance. Decorative red berries can stand on the bush, which stand out well against the dark foliage.

additional information

Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’ grows 10 to 12 feet tall with a spread of 3 to 4 feet. It is recommended for USDA hardiness zones 4 through 7. Hicks Yew does well in full to partial sun exposure. It thrives well with average amounts of moisture in well-drained soil.

Shipping Instructions

NOT AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN THE FOLLOWING US STATES AND TERRITORIES: AK, HI, GM, PR, VI. Due to Department of Agriculture regulations, we cannot ship plants to California. Our products are shipped using USPS, FedEx, or UPS. It should take 2 to 3 days to reach most of the areas we ship to. All of our plants are dispatched within 7 to 10 business days with certain exceptions.

description

Hicks Yew

General information

Hicks Yew is an evergreen shrub. It can grow quite large, up to 12 feet tall. Like most yew trees, it grows a little slowly, so it may take a while to reach this height. Overall it grows narrow and very upright. The Hicks Yew makes an excellent hedge or other landscaping purpose. The needles grow densely and are typically soft to the touch. They are dark green in color and have a beautiful glossy appearance. Decorative red berries can stand on the bush, which stand out well against the dark foliage.

additional information

Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’ grows 10 to 12 feet tall with a spread of 3 to 4 feet. It is recommended for USDA hardiness zones 4 through 7. Hicks Yew does well in full to partial sun exposure. It thrives well with average amounts of moisture in well-drained soil.

Shipping Instructions

NOT AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN THE FOLLOWING US STATES AND TERRITORIES: AK, HI, GM, PR, VI. Due to Department of Agriculture regulations, we cannot ship plants to California. Our products are shipped using USPS, FedEx, or UPS. It should take 2 to 3 days to reach most of the areas we ship to. All of our plants are dispatched within 7 to 10 business days with certain exceptions.

Hicks Yew can grow in sun or shade, or even a combination of both. Because of this adaptability and its tolerance to severe shearing, the Hicks Yew is valued as a hedge. Its lush foliage also makes it an excellent privacy screen!

The Hicks Yew Hedge is a striking shrub. With its pretty red berries and distinctive foliage that’s more leaf than needle, it offers more character than your average evergreen.

In the northern US, the Hicks Yew is one of the easiest evergreen shrubs to grow. Enjoy this yew tree in growing zones 4 through 7. They are very hardy and rarely have problems with pests and diseases. Once established, these trees are drought tolerant. This hardy shrub even tolerates salt and pollution, so opt for urban and cooler coastal regions!

Yews thrive in ANY sun to shade condition! This evergreen plant adapts to any well-drained soil. Fertilize when planting and once a year in spring with our balanced slow-release fertilizer. While yew trees tolerate dry conditions, you’ll get the best growth out of your plant by watering when the soil dries out.

Sun or shade, the Hicks Yew is a great choice if you’re looking for a large evergreen shrub to add to your landscape. Order today!

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JUNE 2020 – OKLAHOMA CITY, OK RESIDENCE

Top 10 Deer – Resistant Hedges

Many of us struggle daily with large resident deer populations that love to devour our rose bushes, fruit trees and generally our favorite and most prized plants. While some small things can be protected with fencing or wildlife spray, these defenses are simply not practical for protecting long hedges.

Fortunately we breed a selection of deer resistant hedges as well as hedges that deer will simply not eat unless they are really hungry. Not only will planting a deer resistant hedge deter them from eating the hedge itself, but planting a tall hedge around the rest of your yard will help keep deer away from everything else as they prefer not to jump over borders that you can. I don’t look past This will also help protect small trees that they like to rub against even if they don’t want to eat them.

These are our top 9 deer resistant hedges:

Deer-proof hedges

Disclaimer: We can’t really promise that everything is completely ‘deer proof’ as some deer have different tastes and very hungry deer are much less fussy. However, based on our experience, these five are about as close to deer-resistant shrubs as you can get:

Green mountain boxwood

Green Mountain Boxwood (Buxus x ‘Green Mountain’) is a hybrid boxwood hedge that deer avoid at all costs. The leaves are dry and leathery, and there is a faint whiff of cat urine in the odor when the foliage is bruised. If a deer had to choose between eating boxwood and starving, it would probably choose the latter. One of the top deer resistant shrubs to consider.

cherry laurel

Cherry laurels are a well-established deer-proof hedge. All three of our species – Englishman (Prunus laurocerasus), Schip (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’) and Portuguese (Prunus lusitanica) – are completely unattractive to deer. It could be the smell, taste, or chewy texture of the leaves, or possibly a combination of factors. We honestly don’t care what it is, just knowing it works is enough for us.

Virescens Western Red Cedar Virescens Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata ‘Virescens’) is native to the West Coast and is used in the United States as a deer-resistant shrub. Nobody really knows why, but deer leave it completely alone. It’s very similar to the East Coast American Arborvitae that deer eat, so it seems like they should eat that one too. All we can say is “they don’t”.

Green Giant Arborvitae Green Giant Arborvitae is a cross between Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) and Japanese Arborvitae (Thuja standishii). It seems to have inherited extreme deer resistance from its Western Red Cedar parent, as they don’t touch it either. It grows quickly, which is another bonus as it can quickly grow into a tall enough hedge to discourage them from jumping over or walking through it. Also discover more hedges. One of the top deer resistant shrubs to consider.

Teton Firethorn Teton Firethorn (Pyracantha ‘Teton’), as the name suggests, is covered in long, sharp thorns. Deer seem to look past rose thorns, but rose thorns appear fleshy and soft compared to those of firethorn. You are sharp. They also grow fast so make a great fence to keep deer out of the whole yard.

Deer resistant hedges

Most deer will avoid these hedges unless they are too desperate. Part of this has to do with timing, particularly with the deciduous hedges on this list, as the trees are leafless when the deer are hungriest. Others are simply not preferred.

Common beech Common beech (Fagus sylvatica) is not a deer favorite. In summer, the leaves are somewhat tough and leathery, and there are many other and more desirable options to choose from. In winter, when other options are limited, the beech has only bare branches and dry, crisp leaves. Not exactly an exquisite salad.

Flame Amur Maple Flame Amur Maple (Acer ginnala ‘Flame’), similar to the common beech, simply has no leaf when the deer are hungry enough to consider it in the winter months. When the leaves are juicier, the deer have tastier things to choose from.

Royal Star Magnolia Royal Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata ‘Royal Star’) has thick, leathery leaves in summer but only bare branches in winter. The flower buds are very fuzzy in spring, which is a texture that deer tend not to like. They generally ignore it.

Wichita Blue Juniper Wichita Blue Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Wichita Blue’) has a strong aroma and somewhat prickly foliage, which is unattractive to most deer. This is an especially good choice for cold, mountainous regions where deer are plentiful and hungry.

IN SUMMARY

This handy deer resistance chart compares our most popular hedge varieties based on deer resistance levels and other key traits:

Name Deer-Resistance Exposure Zone Growth Rate Evergreen/Foliage Green Mountain Boxwood Extreme Sun to Part Shade 4 Moderate/Slow Evergreen Cherry Laurel Strong Sun to Part Shade 6 Fast Evergreen Western Red Cedar Strong Sun to Part Shade 5 Moderate/Slow Evergreen Green Giant Arborvitaes Strong Sun to Part Shade 6 Fast Evergreen Teton Firethorn Strong Sun to part shade 6 Moderate/Slow Evergreen Arrowwood Viburnum Good Sun to part shade 2 Moderately deciduous Bald Cypress Good Sun to part shade 5 Fast deciduous European Beech Good Sun to part shade 5 Moderately deciduous Flame Amur Maple Good Sun to part shade 3 Fast deciduous Wichita Blue Juniper Good Sun 4 Moderate Evergreen Royal Star Magnolia Good Sun to Part Shade 5 Moderate Foliage Hicks Yew Poor Sun to Shade 5 Moderate Evergreen Emerald Arborvitae Poor Sun 2 Slow Evergreen American Arborvitae Poor Sun 2 Fast Evergreen Cornelian Poor sun to H fall shadow 5 Moderately deciduous

©2019 InstantHedge™

Overgrown yew trees

“Everything but yews!” “I hate yews!” are sentences that we landscape designers hear again and again from customers.

And we understand. We really do.

Don’t blame the yew!

We’ve all seen overgrown yew trees crowding an entrance, shrinking the walkway so much that you have to approach it from the side. We’ve seen well-intentioned homeowners prune their yew trees to what can only be described as tall and green. And we’ve seen homes almost swallowed up by a huge yew hedge that covers the front facade, blocking any natural light from reaching the windows.

But I can only say that you can’t blame the yew.

The very qualities that these monstrosities evoke also make the yew hedge a valuable landscape plant.

They last! Yews are slow-growing and long-lived and often grow wider than they are tall. Some of the oldest Taxus baccata trees in the British Isles are over 1,000 years old. The Fortingall Yew tree outside a churchyard in Perthshire, Scotland is estimated to be around 5,000 years old and believed to be the oldest living tree not only in Britain but probably in all of Europe.

Yews (Taxus) are versatile evergreens that are perfect for many landscape uses. They show great differences in height, growth habit and other important characteristics. This allows the designer to choose those that are best suited for the specific use and location.

Yews, allowed to grow without pruning or shearing, make magnificent specimen plants, but they are most commonly used as formal hedges and for topiary work.

The prostrate and spreading species are effective ground covers.

Yew makes a great shrub for borders, entryways, pathways, display gardens or mass plantings.

Yews thrive in most soils. While this evergreen shrub thrives in sun to part sun and well-drained soil, it tolerates almost any exposure and soil condition with the exception of overly wet soil.

Additionally, Taxus yew shrubs tend to be *deer resistant, drought tolerant, and tolerant of repeated shearing and pruning, making yew shrub care relatively easy.

Here is an update, March 2018

I am updating this blog now as we are having very different experiences. Thanks to Rik Haugen of the Garden Design Network in Chelsea, Michigan. Rik recently contacted us with a comment: “Interesting article about yew trees on your website, unfortunately yew trees seem to be a universal favorite for the deer population here in Southeast Michigan. You may wish to edit the article to reflect this.” Rik continued, “You have a great website, but I thought I should share what we’re seeing in Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills and throughout Southeast Michigan. I spend a lot of time outdoors and have never seen such concentrations of deer as up there; they are tame and fat! Some of the people up there definitely love feeding Bambi.”

From our previous experience here in a suburban landscape, the deer population had a wide variety of plant matter to feed on before getting to the yew trees. But the more desperate they get, the more likely they are to eat just about anything. In recent years we have noticed that they have expanded their territory even into densely populated neighborhoods. We experience sightings like never before. You’ll be noticed at busy intersections and neighborhoods just blocks from the 6-lane Woodward Avenue.

As the local deer population increases and competition for the buffet grows, we even know that they eat mature rose bushes. Nothing seems taboo.

Some of our favorites are for various reasons:

The evergreen yew (Taxus x media ‘Everlow’) is a low-growing spreading plant with dark green needles. It grows 1-2 feet tall with a spread of 3-4 feet and is drought, sun and shade tolerant.

The brown yew (Taxus media ‘Brownii’) forms a dense, rounded shrub up to 10 feet tall and wide.

The Capitata Yew (Taxus cuspidata ‘Capitata’) forms a broad, dense pyramid that slowly grows to a height of 40 feet.

Densiformis yew (Taxus media ‘Densiformis’) is a good choice for hedges, growing to about 4 feet tall and 6 feet wide.

Green Wave Yew (Taxus cuspidata ‘Green Wave’) forms a low, arching mound up to 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide.

Hiccup’s Yew (Taxus media ‘Hicksii’) is a fast growing, open habit hybrid that makes an excellent hedge. This strain grows 25 feet tall and 10 feet wide.

Taunton Yew (Taxus media ‘Tauntonii’) grows into a low spreading mound 3 feet in diameter. It tolerates extreme weather such as wind, heat and cold well and is a great plant for dry, shady locations.

In general, the yew is an easy-care, slow-growing, shade-tolerant, drought-tolerant and highly adaptable shrub that thrives on all types of soil. It is valued for its versatility as a specimen plant, foundation plant, hedge plant and as a topiary. And there are sprawling and upright varieties.

So the next time one of our clever designers suggests a yew tree for your landscape, don’t turn them down. It may not have large, showy flowers or multicolored foliage, but its soft green needles and low maintenance will win you over.

I promise.

We’re proud to be trusted by Michigan homeowners for over 35 years. To learn more about our services, click here. To view our portfolio of custom landscaping projects visit this link. And please don’t hesitate to contact us to learn more about our custom landscape design and construction services. We’d love to help you create your own little piece of paradise in Michigan.

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All parts of the yew tree are poisonous, but the berries (especially the seeds) contain the highest concentrations of taxi alkaloids. Birds and gray squirrels can eat the fruit either by eating just the pulp or by passing the seed intact through their digestive systems. However, make absolutely sure that you, your children and pets do not consume yew berries or needles, as these can cause serious illnesses if consumed in sufficient quantities. Symptoms of yew poisoning can include:

Taxus baccata (yew) is a large, evergreen conifer that often grows in churchyards. In gardens it is usually grown as a hedge – it is a beautiful, formal, evergreen hedge or topiary. As a hedge, the yew provides the perfect dark green background for more colorful plants. Its dense growth habit makes it the perfect shelter for nesting birds, and its bright red berries are eaten by birds and gray squirrels.

stomach pain

confusion

dizziness

Irregular heart rate

muscle weakness

nausea and vomiting

Yews have a reputation for being slow growers, but given the right conditions, the yew hedge can grow by around 30cm per year.

How to grow yew trees

Grow yew in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to full shade. Water well once the plant is established and you shouldn’t need to water again – yew trees do best in slightly drier soil as they can suffer root rot in wetter conditions. Cut back existing hedges in summer. Standard yews require very little maintenance.

Identify Taxus baccata

Yew has a reddish-brown, peeling bark with purple hues. Its needle-like leaves are evergreen and grow in rows on either side of the petiole. While the flowers are insignificant, the bright red fruits are easy to spot on female trees. The fruits are berry-like seeds and are always open, revealing the hard seed inside.

size, height and distribution

Yew trees reach a maximum height and width of 20 x 20 m. However, they may not get that big in your lifetime – remember that a yew tree is not considered fully grown until it is 900 years old!

value for wildlife

When grown as a hedge, the yew provides dense shelter for birds. Its fruits are eaten by birds and small mammals such as squirrels and dormouse. Its leaves are a food plant for the caterpillars of the satin beauty moth.

Where to plant Taxus baccata

Choose your location carefully when planting yew trees, as yew trees can grow over 20m tall and up to 3000 years old. Yew hedges can be grown in place of fences and walls for a lush garden border, while yew topiary can be grown in pots and in various locations in a border for dramatic effect.

How to plant Taxus baccata

Prepare the soil by digging it up and incorporating well-rotted manure or garden compost. Yews are available as pot plants or bare root plants. Bare root plants are cheaper to buy, especially when planting a hedge.

Plant in autumn or spring, distance between hedge plants 60 cm. Press lightly around the root ball and water well. Water during dry spells in the first year, until established.

Yew does well in containers and is an ideal shrub for a formal display such as a wedding reception. B. on both sides of a front door. Additional watering is required in pots as the roots have much less soil to seek moisture.

Care of Taxus baccata

Once established, yew trees require very little maintenance. As long as they grow in well-drained soil, they will thrive without interference from you. However, hedges do require pruning and topiaries require more regular intervention to maintain the desired shape.

How to prune a yew hedge

After planting and for the first few years, encourage bushy growth by trimming only the side shoots. Avoid cutting off the growth tips (growth upwards) as this will cause a loss of vigour, and will cause your yew tree to grow very slowly for at least a couple of years.

Once your yew hedge has reached the desired height, you can begin trimming the growing tops. From this point you can easily trim back with scissors or hedge trimmers. Avoid trimming too much as it will take a few years for it to grow back. Prune from late spring through summer and do your last trimming in September to avoid cutting into old wood that could cause brown stains. Tape the hedge slightly to ensure light reaches the bottom of the plants.

Growing yew: problem solving

Root rot can be fatal to yew trees and is caused by the fungal disease Phytopthera. The fungus attacks the roots and prevents them from absorbing water, causing the leaves to brown. This is most common in the fall and winter when the soil is wetter. Always plant yew trees in well-drained soil to prevent them from becoming established. If you spot leaf browning, don’t despair, as long as there are green shoots on the plants, they aren’t dead yet. Try improving drainage by digging around the hedge, or move young yew plants to a better spot.

Advice on buying yews Before buying plants, pay attention to the best conditions for growing yews. If you have wet soil, consider alternatives

Choose from potted or bare root plants and single or multi-stem trees

Specialty nurseries will have a wider variety of tree sizes and shapes to choose from. Where to buy Thompson & Morgan Yews?

suttons

primrose

crocus

Paramount plants

Yew varieties to grow

Taxus baccata ‘Summergold’ – golden yellow foliage and compact, well-groomed habit. Ideal for rock gardens. Height x width: 1.5m x 1.5m

Taxus baccata ‘David’ – dwarf, columnar habit with gold-edged green leaves. Male variety – does not form berries. H x S: 4m x 1.5m

Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata Robusta’ – Irish yew has a columnar habit and leaves that grow around the trunk rather than in rows like Taxus baccata. It remains narrow and grows slowly. H x S: 12m x 4m

From Todd Heft @ Big Blog Of Gardening:

Home Grown Tomatoes: The step-by-step guide to growing delicious organic tomatoes in your garden

Our native rhododendrons, R. catawbiense and R. maximum, make excellent screen material in shady areas, especially if you want an informal display. They bloom in late spring in shades of lavender pink to white, depending on the variety. Mature plants develop interesting shapes and can reach 20 feet in height, although around 10 feet is more common. Other good rhododendron choices include R. ‘Roseum Elegans’ and ‘PJM’. Amend the soil well when planting rhododendrons to ensure good drainage – they do not tolerate wet soil and can develop Phytophthora root rot if kept too wet. If they are in a fairly shady area, once established they are fairly drought tolerant.

Fast growing hedges are an inexpensive and time effective way to establish a fully fledged garden feature or screen, with all of our hedges having an average growth rate of 40-60cm per year. Before you know it, your hedge will have reached the desired height and changed the look of your garden.

The benefits of fast-growing hedging

Despite their impressive growth rate, fast-growing hedges are actually a relatively low-maintenance choice, as they often only need pruning twice a year to keep them clean and in shape. If you are looking for a hedge that will bring privacy and security to your garden, fast growing hedges are an excellent choice as they can grow up to 5m tall. Fast-growing conifers and evergreen hedge plants are a particularly popular option for added privacy, although our team can help you choose a fast-growing hedge that’s right for you.

Planting fast-growing hedges is also a wonderful way to attract more wildlife to your yard as they provide food and shelter for birds.

Hedges Direct have a wide range of the UK’s best fast growing shrubs including Beech Hedge, Cherry Laurel Hedge and Western Red Cedar. If you’re interested in learning more about the fast-growing hedging industry, we’ve put together a helpful guide.

If you’d prefer to speak to a member of our team you can phone them on 01257 263 873 or email them on [email protected] but don’t forget we have a full 12 month No Quibble Guarantee on all our plants -Guaranteed You can buy with complete confidence.

Colorful combinations

With more than 400 registered varieties to choose from, you have many options when it comes to yew trees. Originally there were simply different species from different climate zones and regions. But most commercially available yew trees are actually hybrids of several species. This allows them to show the best traits of their many different parents and adapt them to more gardens.

Yew care must-knows

Because they are conifers, yews do not have flowers. They produce cones instead. Yew plants are male and female separately, so one shrub may be male and only produce pollen, while another only produces fruit. Yew pollen can cause severe reactions in seasonally sensitive allergy sufferers, and the pollen grains themselves are very small. Avoid planting male varieties if you are particularly prone to pollen allergies.

Female yew trees produce small red berries surrounding a single seed, which is the only part of the plant that doesn’t contain the deadly toxin that yew trees produce. While the plant attracts birds to eat the fruit, the seed coat is hard enough to resist the birds’ digestion process, and when the birds fly to a new area, they serve as a dispersal method to spread yew seeds.

Yews are hardy plants that can handle many different situations. The biggest problems to avoid are stagnant water and soil that stays wet for long periods of time, as both promote root rot and general plant decline.

For the best branching of your yew shrubs, plant them in full sun. While yew trees are just as happy in part sun and can even grow in full shade, remember that the more shade you have, the more regularly you’ll need to prune to prevent loose and limp growth. Partial shade is beneficial for all gold-leaved varieties and also provides some protection from winter burn on the leaves.

Pruning is best done in early spring, before a new growth spurt. This will ensure that new growth is bushy enough to fill in holes in the garden design. It’s not strictly necessary to prune yew trees every year, but it will help avoid future problems with dead interiors and overly woody plants.

toxicity

Yew plants form an extremely toxic compound in all of their parts except for the fleshy red fruits that the females produce. This is a self-defense mechanism to prevent animals from eating them, and the toxin affects almost all animals. So be careful where you plant these shrubs.

Overgrown yew trees

“Everything but yews!” “I hate yews!” are sentences that we landscape designers hear again and again from customers.

And we understand. We really do.

Don’t blame the yew!

We’ve all seen overgrown yew trees crowding an entrance, shrinking the walkway so much that you have to approach it from the side. We’ve seen well-intentioned homeowners prune their yew trees to what can only be described as tall and green. And we’ve seen homes almost swallowed up by a huge yew hedge that covers the front facade, blocking any natural light from reaching the windows.

But I can only say that you can’t blame the yew.

The very qualities that these monstrosities evoke also make the yew hedge a valuable landscape plant.

They last! Yews are slow-growing and long-lived and often grow wider than they are tall. Some of the oldest Taxus baccata trees in the British Isles are over 1,000 years old. The Fortingall Yew tree outside a churchyard in Perthshire, Scotland is estimated to be around 5,000 years old and believed to be the oldest living tree not only in Britain but probably in all of Europe.

Yews (Taxus) are versatile evergreens that are perfect for many landscape uses. They show great differences in height, growth habit and other important characteristics. This allows the designer to choose those that are best suited for the specific use and location.

Yews, allowed to grow without pruning or shearing, make magnificent specimen plants, but they are most commonly used as formal hedges and for topiary work.

The prostrate and spreading species are effective ground covers.

Yew makes a great shrub for borders, entryways, pathways, display gardens or mass plantings.

Yews thrive in most soils. While this evergreen shrub thrives in sun to part sun and well-drained soil, it tolerates almost any exposure and soil condition with the exception of overly wet soil.

Additionally, Taxus yew shrubs tend to be *deer resistant, drought tolerant, and tolerant of repeated shearing and pruning, making yew shrub care relatively easy.

Here is an update, March 2018

I am updating this blog now as we are having very different experiences. Thanks to Rik Haugen of the Garden Design Network in Chelsea, Michigan. Rik recently contacted us with a comment: “Interesting article about yew trees on your website, unfortunately yew trees seem to be a universal favorite for the deer population here in Southeast Michigan. You may wish to edit the article to reflect this.” Rik continued, “You have a great website, but I thought I should share what we’re seeing in Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills and throughout Southeast Michigan. I spend a lot of time outdoors and have never seen such concentrations of deer as up there; they are tame and fat! Some of the people up there definitely love feeding Bambi.”

From our previous experience here in a suburban landscape, the deer population had a wide variety of plant matter to feed on before getting to the yew trees. But the more desperate they get, the more likely they are to eat just about anything. In recent years we have noticed that they have expanded their territory even into densely populated neighborhoods. We experience sightings like never before. You’ll be noticed at busy intersections and neighborhoods just blocks from the 6-lane Woodward Avenue.

As the local deer population increases and competition for the buffet grows, we even know that they eat mature rose bushes. Nothing seems taboo.

Some of our favorites are for various reasons:

The evergreen yew (Taxus x media ‘Everlow’) is a low-growing spreading plant with dark green needles. It grows 1-2 feet tall with a spread of 3-4 feet and is drought, sun and shade tolerant.

The brown yew (Taxus media ‘Brownii’) forms a dense, rounded shrub up to 10 feet tall and wide.

The Capitata Yew (Taxus cuspidata ‘Capitata’) forms a broad, dense pyramid that slowly grows to a height of 40 feet.

Densiformis yew (Taxus media ‘Densiformis’) is a good choice for hedges, growing to about 4 feet tall and 6 feet wide.

Green Wave Yew (Taxus cuspidata ‘Green Wave’) forms a low, arching mound up to 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide.

Hiccup’s Yew (Taxus media ‘Hicksii’) is a fast growing, open habit hybrid that makes an excellent hedge. This strain grows 25 feet tall and 10 feet wide.

Taunton Yew (Taxus media ‘Tauntonii’) grows into a low spreading mound 3 feet in diameter. It tolerates extreme weather such as wind, heat and cold well and is a great plant for dry, shady locations.

In general, the yew is an easy-care, slow-growing, shade-tolerant, drought-tolerant and highly adaptable shrub that thrives on all types of soil. It is valued for its versatility as a specimen plant, foundation plant, hedge plant and as a topiary. And there are sprawling and upright varieties.

So the next time one of our clever designers suggests a yew tree for your landscape, don’t turn them down. It may not have large, showy flowers or multicolored foliage, but its soft green needles and low maintenance will win you over.

I promise.

We’re proud to be trusted by Michigan homeowners for over 35 years. To learn more about our services, click here. To view our portfolio of custom landscaping projects visit this link. And please don’t hesitate to contact us to learn more about our custom landscape design and construction services. We’d love to help you create your own little piece of paradise in Michigan.

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Plant yew with root ball

How to plant a yew hedge with a root ball

The yew survived the last ice age and is probably the hardiest tree in the UK. It is well established, grows steadily rather than slowly, is forgiving of poor pruning, car crashes and other accidents, looks good almost anywhere and enhances your property like no other hedging plant.

Planting such a tolerant native is therefore fairly easy. Common sense will usually guide you well as the same basics apply to yew as to any other hedge; It needs drainage, light, food and water, air and a firm footing.

Applying the above, here are some specific notes pertaining to root balled yew trees.

1. Please remember that rootballed plants can be very heavy – our largest can weigh over 30kg each. So:

They are delivered on one or more pallets. Once off the truck, they are almost impossible to move on anything other than a smooth surface like tarmac. A strong wheelbarrow or hand truck is very useful here.

Planting is really a two person job as these things need to be placed relatively carefully at the bottom of a trench and you want your back to be in good shape when the job is done.

Then if you have to do it alone – bend your knees

2. Prepare the ground well in advance. Yew lives for many hundreds of years, so it pays to be well prepared.

Ditch a trench 30 cm (12″) deep and approximately 45 cm (18″) wide. Improve the soil you’re digging by removing weeds, roots, trash, larger rocks, and buried treasure. Break up the clumps and add some well-rotted organic matter – no more than 25% by volume.

Fork across the bottom of the trench to ensure there is no compacted soil – especially important if you used a backhoe

Beware of correct tone. You must address the clay drainage problem before planting any hedge, including yew. Almost every plant dies in standing water, which is what happens when you dig a trench in clay. Correcting the problem may require professional advice and is not within the scope of this advice – just be aware of the hazard.

If you are concerned about clay, dig a hole about 18 inches deep at the lowest point of the hedge line. Pour a bucket of water into it in the evening. If there is standing water there the next morning, drainage is poor and you should seek advice.

3. Place the root ball in the ditch.

Please DO NOT remove the burlap (sacks) tied around the root ball. It rots quickly and should therefore be left in place.

Space your plants about 60cm apart depending on plant size. More when they are crowded.

Yew hedging is formal, so it pays to invest time in making your lines straight and spacing even. Unless you have a pyramid builder’s eye, use string stretched between sticks to ensure you plant straight. Check the dimensions between the individual plants. No shame in double checking too.

Root balls are not the same size, so some will need to be raised by adding some soil underneath, while others may need to remove a bit of soil from the trench bottom below

4. Plant your hedge.

Water the root balls gently. Just enough to ensure the jute is wet.

Bring back the soil around the plants, making sure they stay well spaced, upright and in line.

Firm the ground as the level rises, making sure the jute is completely covered when you’re done.

Because of the size of the root balls and the organic matter you added to the soil from the dig, you should end up with planting mix left over. Don’t try to use up everything on your yew. Set aside and use to raise soil level if subsidence occurs in the 4-6 weeks after planting. When that’s done, use it elsewhere in the garden instead of drowning your plants.

Speaking of drowning, water really well once planting is complete and make sure the bed doesn’t dry out until you see fresh growth in spring. This shouldn’t be a difficult task if you’re going to have a typically British winter after planting…

5. Aftercare.

What is yew

Yew (Taxus baccata) is a native evergreen tree or shrub. A symbol of immortality, it can be very long-lived, with some churchyard trees estimated to be over 1,000 years old.

In gardens, yew is often grown as a formal hedge or topiary as its dense growth can be trimmed into neat shapes. When grown as a tree, it has reddish-brown peeling bark, a dense perennial canopy of dark green, needle-like leaves, and red, berry-like fruits called arillus (on female plants). Yew can reach 12 m (40 ft) or more over time if left unpruned.

Yew is valuable to many species of wildlife. Its dense growth provides year-round shelter for birds and insects, while the fruit produced by female yew trees provides a food source for a variety of birds and small mammals in the fall and winter.

Be aware, however, that yew leaves are highly toxic to both humans and animals, and while the fruit is not poisonous, the seed it contains is extremely poisonous. It would be wise to wear gloves when handling yew clippings and never plant it within reach of grazing animals. For more advice, see our guide to potentially harmful garden plants.

Why grow yew?

Yew is an easy-to-grow plant that thrives in almost any soil or situation, even deep shade. It will suit any size garden as it can be trimmed or trimmed regularly to keep it in check or allowed to grow to full extent.

It provides valuable structure all year round and works well in all garden styles including:

formal gardens when trimmed neatly as a hedge or topiary

Containers, in a contemporary or traditional setting, when trimmed into formal shapes

Coverage, either informal or formal, that provides a tight shield or backdrop for borders year-round

Wildlife gardens as they provide year-round shelter and female plants produce fruit

as majestic solitary trees

Helping hedgehogs Yew hedges can form useful corridors for wildlife and provide sheltered paths between gardens for wildlife such as hedgehogs.

buy yew

Yew plants are widely available at garden centers and online suppliers including the RHS shop. They can be bought in a variety of sizes, although younger plants tend to settle in faster. If you’re looking to buy a large plant for instant impact, check out our guide to buying specimen trees.

Yew plants can also be purchased in bulk, often as bare root plants (without soil) from online hedge vendors. When purchasing yew trees for a hedge, choose plants that are 45 to 60 cm (18 in to 2 ft) tall, as these tend to be more successful in establishing and outgrowing than taller plants. Bare-rooted or rootballed yew trees are usually cheaper than container plants and seem to be easier to establish.

In addition to the common yew (Taxus baccata), there are also several varieties that offer leaves in different shades of green or yellow and with different growth styles. The best known of these is the Irish yew (Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’), which has a distinct columnar shape with vertical branches. Other species of yew also exist, although most are not readily available in the UK. For the widest selection of yew varieties, search online for specialist tree and shrub nurseries.

For more information on the different varieties, including photos, growing advice and where to buy, go to RHS Find a Plant and search for ‘yew’.