Everything you need to know about Yew

This video is all about yew or Taxus baccata. From how to grow it, how to care for it and it’s history, yew has a place in every type of garden.

[Edu_Kate]

You've swayed me. I wanted to grow an arborvitae and sheer it into a sort of chess piece to honor my late brother-in-law. A friend asked why not a yew. Hearing the significance to cemeteries this makes perfect sense.
Your garden is glorious!

[bohemiangardensandgourdfar]

The beautiful and unique sculptures cut from this plant in British gardens are truly magical... the plant itself a marvel. 😎✌️💚 USA

[cathyhutchins]

You and your husband are dedicated gardeners. Love watching your videos. Your garden is amazing.

[KasoniecumulasBui]

You brought him Tea but Was he Drinking tea or water Lol! Happy to have learned something new watching this Thank you!

[sandeehess]

Thank you for sharing your beautiful garden with us, also a lot of knowledge! It helps to actually see things done as you are explaining, also what has and has not worked for you. Happy gardening!

[Igor-pdf]

Fantastic job, thank you very much. Nice to meet you.

[michelemarch]

Thank You So Much for this wonderful video. Very nicely done!🌸🌷🪷🍃

[oakleyjack]

I’m in my fourth year of growing a perimeter hedge of Hicksii yew. I bought them around 18” tall for about $15 each, and here in the 4th year they finally put out about a foot of growth. Patience is key but when they start responding it’s worth it and you can expect their yearly growth to multiply each year to maturity.

[pamelacorsi]

I learned so much about yews! Thank you!

[liveacousticsound]

Hello Jenny!

I live in San Diego, California. As you know, the weather here is very arid, but coastal. Many years ago, my mother knew a man whose father propagated Irish Yews up in Oregon state. One year, he loaded up his truck with a bunch of yews and brought them back to San Diego. My mother kept most of them in pots for many years, so they didn’t really grow very tall, and she did plant two in her yard. She had given me a couple at first, then a couple more, which I love, and I planted them in my yard. I even transplanted two from her garden to mine. I was unsure how well they would do here in southern California, but they seem to be thriving quite well. I have a total of nine plants in my yard, and they are very precious to me. The biggest yew is now about 4 meters tall, wow! The ones with drip irrigation are doing the best. Thank-you for sharing your garden and yews, I sometimes wish I lived where things are greener, but I do love sunny, warmer weather.

By the way: I have never seen any other Irish Yews here in San Diego. Most people have no idea what they are!

Cheers!

[manxman]

Very interesting to see other people's experiences with yew hedges. It's one of my favourite plants. Personally I would leave the soft growth trimmings on the ground around the hedge (after pruning each year)to act as a mulch. Saves money and time 🙂

[maryjones]

Thank you...I ❤ your video!!! I live in Baltimore Md and we have beautiful yew!!!

[risalangdon]

Very helpful & informative!
Also, the volume seemed much better on this video. 😉

[jomassey]

The yew has such a neat yet wispy appearance as a hedging shrub.
Love the dark colour too.
Although too many would make for a grisly and depressing garden.
The other buxus and cone shaped topiary lift the garden due to its golden or blueish hue.
Didn't know the history of where the mother tree came from....interesting that the horticulturists have made such different growth styles from one mother plant.
You'd never think that someone could make an upright yew from such a wide and twisted trunked, tree.
Very fascinating talk.
And your new secateurs, I'm still not 100% on how they work.
You press once and they will keep cutting until the whole branch is cut.
You just wait, no more pressing or forcing. Correct?
Ive seen ones that are electronic but very dangerous for children to have in their disposal.
I think I'd go for your special cutters anytime.
I wonder if they export to the Pacific.
Our summer last yr was terrible, no sun...rain and a cyclone as well, in Napier NZ.
I'm praying for no further rain and consecutive sunny days.
Seems we can't rely on our weather patterns anymore.
Bye for now, Joanna😊

[sharronbiccum]

You are an absolute darling. Loved your vid. I live in Canada. Have never had a yew. Didn’t know anything about them. You have given megreat ideas. Will be buying one yew today. I live in the Kootenays in British Columbia Not sure where to plant this yew Thanks again for all the info❤️

[ginamansfield]

Your Yews are Lovely! I appreciate the education of how to maintain Yews, how to trim out branches that are gnarly, as well as the equipment used to do so. I’ve often wondered how the well manicured Yews are trimmed so perfectly & what is used to accomplish such perfection. I have very old Yews. I’m wondering if removing dead sections out of a Yew that is 60 years old would rejuvenate that particular area. May give it a go after seeing your video. Also, that is an Interesting tidbit about the Irish Yew. And, I loved seeing the growth on your Sweet Olive/Tea Olive in your Bottomless Lead-look Pots! Well done pot! And, the Erigeron ‘Profusion’ is so pretty! I couldn’t find ‘Profusion’ seeds in the States but managed to order seeds called ‘Santa Barbara Daisies (Erigeron kavrvinskianus).’I’m hoping they look the same as ‘Profusion.’ They are finally blooming and appear to be the same if not close to it. Thanks for sharing Murphy & Mr. Toad with us too! Blessings!

[a]

We have approx a total of 120 mtrs in yew hedge (All baccata) planted 20 yrs ago and now various heights from 1 mtr to 4 mtrs in height.
Cutting on the non cosmetic side we do evey other year by hand with secateurs.
The cosmetic sides with hedge clippers in late May - Mid June.
When we do when we need to reduce height we do it in stages. Cut the middle down by about a foot each season. This way you keep the green on the outsides and top edge of the hedge. The inside will start to grow from this new lower height. The next season lower the outsides. That way you don't have a eyesore.
The secret is don't if you can let them get out of
With our waste cutting in general we finely chop them with a garden tractor and them mix them into the compost bins.

[Encephalitisify]

Each year you cut it, you take shears and snip off the vertical growth as you were describing. That prevents those long vertical woody branches from forming.

[downburst]

I’m very sceptical about keeping the Irish yew in check. Would love an update on how that is going and any learnings please.

[heyyou]

I am reading The Hound of the Baskervilles. Not being a native speaker, I was wondering how to pronounce the "yew" in the Yew Alley which is so often mentioned in the book and where Sir Charles Baskervilles meets his grim fate. Your video has also been educational in this regard 😀