The yew tree is one of the most popular conifer species. It is particularly used as molded wood and as a hedge. Pruning in a special way is essential if you want it to provide joy for many years. There are various techniques, with topiary being the main focus for many hobby gardeners. The necessary “rejuvenation treatment” is often forgotten. There are tips for this below.
Rejuvenation – Definition
In plant science and especially in tree and shrub care, rejuvenation is carried out in the form of a specific pruning technique in order to primarily help old trees to grow fresh, new shoots. As with humans, the vitality of plants decreases with increasing age. Rejuvenation measures ensure that more young plant parts are formed, which gives even a very old yew tree a young appearance again, from which the term “rejuvenation pruning” is derived.
Why cut?
There are various reasons why you should cut the yew:
Make room
Although the yew tree grows relatively slowly, it should be remembered that it can get very old. In addition to a possible shape cut, a rejuvenation cut makes sense so that old shoots make room for new ones and the taxus maintains its freshness.
Increasing baldness
If the special cut was not carried out, the hedge or yew tree would lose density with each passing year. Especially if the shape cut is desired, unsightly bald spots usually appear. Little to no leaves form on older trees. Cutting can address the problem and achieve a new tightness.
Nutrient supply
Regular rejuvenation cuts also have a positive influence when it comes to nutrient supply. Bare, old shoots consume a lot of nutrients, which are subsequently missing from the formation and supply of new shoots, especially during the growth period. This can result in disturbed growth, the risk of diseases increases and the taxus loses the resistance that allows it to withstand pest infestation.
Best time
Theoretically, a yew tree can be cut all year round as long as there is no frost or extreme heat, because it is very tolerant of pruning. In principle, the best times to cut a yew tree are in spring between May and June and in late summer between August and September. Topiaries can easily be made at these times.
Rejuvenation cut
The best time to cut for “rejuvenation” is at the beginning/mid of May, when the growing season is about to begin. Although the yew tree can tolerate pruning at any frost-free time, rejuvenation pruning in spring is better because it provides a short-term boost of energy and thus stimulates vigorous growth. If cut in late summer or autumn, most of the energy would be lost for overwintering. It can still be cut then, but the positive effects would only be seen in a weakened or limited form in the following year.
Weather
A day should be chosen when the sun is not shining. This is especially true for cutting during warm spring or summer days. Yew trees tend to quickly form brown needles in the area when cut in warm sunlight. Although this is not a problem from a he alth perspective, it does make yew trees visually unattractive. For this reason, yew trees should never be cut in midsummer.
Frequency
The targeted rejuvenation cut for a yew tree should be done at least every two years - every year is ideal - especially if a yew tree has already had a few years of life behind it. If the rejuvenation cut is carried out in spring, another cut should be made in late summer/early autumn in which young shoots are shortened. In this way, he althy, dense growth can be stimulated to a maximum in the following year.
Cutting & Cutting Techniques
Cuts for shape or height/width correction can be combined and done together with the rejuvenation cut in spring. In late summer/early autumn, these pruning techniques can also be carried out with thinning/maintenance pruning. You can read about the differences between taper cutting and other cutting techniques and how they should be carried out in the article section below.
Cutting tool
Sharp hedge trimmers should always be used for cutting softwood, regardless of whether it is a solitary yew tree or a yew hedge.
Hygiene
It is important to ensure that the cutting tool is only used in a clean and disinfected condition. If an unclean hedge trimmer is used, this increases the risk of infection transmission and, in the worst case, can lead to the death of the yew trees.
NOTE:
Almost all parts of the Taxus plant are poisonous. To avoid contact, wearing gloves and long clothing is recommended when pruning.
Continuous rejuvenation cut
In order to maintain an even needle pattern, a continuous rejuvenation cut is recommended, which adapts annually to the previous year's cut. Here's how it works
- Short the longest horizontal shoots by a quarter
- Cut off a quarter again in subsequent years
- Cut vertical scaffold shoots to two centimeter tenons
- Reroute long scaffold shoots if necessary
Occasional rejuvenation cut
If you don't want to use the hedge trimmer every year, you can use a more radical method that should be done every few years. This is particularly recommended if the appearance is already clearly thin and/or growth is restricted. This is how it works:
- Short the entire top of the yew tree by a third
- Cut the upper area slightly pointed (allows more light to flow into the lower area)
- Remove all side shoots (allows light to reach the inner “core”)
- Additional thinning
Thinning for rejuvenation
Whether you decide on a normal or more radical rejuvenation cut, thinning makes an effective contribution to the rejuvenation and (renewed) strong growth of a yew tree. This is how to proceed with the thinning:
- Cut off shoots that grow too close and parallel inside
- Shorten crossing shoots either at the front of the crossing point or “de-prune” and redirect them
- Cut off old, dry wood close to the base
- Short needleless and/or unhe althy shoots by at least a third, better by half
- Separating wild shoots from the trunk
- Frequency: at least once a year
Radical cut for rejuvenation
Especially old and very rarely or not at all cared for/pruned yews often have an extremely bright, bright appearance. Especially if they are particularly tall, with a normal and more severe rejuvenation cut it can take years until they become attractive again. Many people then find the yew tree to be an unsightly “spot” that disrupts the overall look of the garden and usually decide to remove it completely. This doesn't have to be the case, because even the oldest and weakest yew tree can be brought back to life and appear in its youthful splendor again. The radical cut helps achieve this rejuvenation treatment with a “go for it”, as it is called in technical jargon.
- Short the main trunk to a height of around ten to 20 centimeters above the ground surface
- Take off any shoots on the stump
- Be sure to close the cut with charcoal or wax (protects against infection and rot)
- Loosen the soil above the root area as deeply as possible
- Work lawn mulch or compost into the soil
- Growth period: the first new shoots will appear in the following year - after five years the height will reach around 50 centimeters
NOTE:
Did you know that it is possible to “restore” yew trees after serious illness or severe pest infestation by radically cutting them off? It is therefore not always necessary to dispose of the entire plant, although it depends on whether the root is still intact.
Dispose of clippings
Regardless of whether a lot or a little has been cut off a yew tree, it is strongly recommended that you dispose of the clippings carefully and completely. Both the sap and other parts of the plant are poisonous. If they remain in the bed or on the lawn after cutting, they pose a potential danger to small children and pets. If there are no pets and/or children in the household, they may be found on the neighboring property. Therefore, you should also pay attention to falling plant parts on neighboring properties or public paths/roads.
Compost
Plant parts from a yew tree can certainly be disposed of in a compost bin. The only important thing is that it is initially not accessible to children and pets. Over time, the poison contained in the plant parts decomposes, so that it no longer poses a risk of symptoms of poisoning. It's quicker if the cut-off parts are shredded. As a result, the decomposition process begins more quickly and the toxic danger is averted more quickly.
Burn
Yew wood is known for its particular hardness, which makes it a popular firewood for stove and fireplace owners. The poison is neutralized by the heat in the oven/fireplace, so there is no risk of toxic fumes/odors. However, it must first be dried for combustion. A safe, rain-protected storage area where children and animals cannot access is ideal.
Organic bin
The regular disposal of a yew tree or the parts of the plant that had to be removed due to regeneration takes place in the organic waste bin. For larger quantities, it is advisable to shred them or to use so-called leaf bags made of paper with a volume of around 100 liters. They will be picked up free of charge together with the organic waste bin.
