Yew, with its contrasting red berries, predates the tradition of theChristmas treeand is often found growing churchyards.
For the holiday, sprigs are commonly cut and used likehollyin naturalChristmas decorations.
Note that yew can be toxic to people and pets.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
It is also commonly used in hedges andtopiaries.
Light
Yew can be grown in full sun, partial shade, and even full shade.
Too much shade can cause thin and floppy growth.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Soil
Yew tolerates several soil types, as long as the soil has good drainage.
It thrives in rich, loamy soil with a neutral toslightly acidic soil pH.
It also does well, surprisingly, in heavy clay.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
However, any planting site that traps water may result in root rot.
When establishing yew during the first year, water it weekly to maintain even soil moisture.
After that, weekly waterings are only needed during drought periods when natural rainfall will not provide enough moisture.
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Temperature and Humidity
The hardiness zones for yew vary by species.
Fertilizer
Fertilize your yew in the early spring, beginning one year after planting.
Prune yew in the early spring before any new foliage appears.
Use hand pruners or branch loppers to cut branches back to their joints.
Remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches as you spot them.
Propagating Yew
The best way to propagate yew is through cuttings.
Propagating by cuttings also yields offspring that look exactly like the parent.
After a few years in a container, your yew will need to be transplanted into the ground.
Overwintering
In most climates, yew planted in the ground can tolerate cold winter temperatures without protection.
Common Pests
Yew can fall victim to several evergreen sapsuckers, includingmealybugsandscale.
Infestation can result in needle loss, yellowing branches, dieback, and mold issues.
Mealybugs and scale are hard to control with insecticides, as they have grown resistant to most chemicals.
This plant is notorious for dying if it sits in soil that is waterlogged.
That said, too little watering can also cause similar issues.
Sticking to strict watering protocols will help you avoid both root rot and yellowing branches and needles.
Snow Damage
Heavy snows can result in winter damage, like broken branches, and browning needles.
After a big snowfall, confirm to remove any lingering snow buildup to prevent this problem.
Late summer pruning can also help a yew plant or tree avoid breakage during storms.
Yew hedges and trees have incredibly long lives if properly maintained.
Some European English yew trees have lived to an age of 1,500 to 3,000 years old.
Yew trees and hedges have the ability to renew themselves, and their bending branches can even re-root.
For this reason, yew has become a symbol of immortality.
Yew trees often bleed their blood-red sap if the tree has been injured by breakage or winter damage.
This is usually not an issue of concern, as bleeding yew trees scar very easily.
Handcrafted wooden bows are commonly built from a combination of sapwood and heartwood from mature yew trees.
Yew is generally low-maintenance and provides reliable, dense foliage for landscaping.
However, this genus is somewhat slow-growing and all parts are toxic.
Taxus.North Carolina State Extension.
