Shaping a Japanese Yew in a specific style can be done in two ways. The first is by pruning the branches and trunk (cut and grow method), and the next way is the wiring of the branches and trunk. Pruning: Styling a Japanese Yew bonsai tree can be done by pruning and carving. Maintenance pruning: this is done throughout the growing season.
How do you prune an overgrown Japanese yew tree?
Overgrown Japanese Yew Pruning. Take off crossing branches and those that turn toward the inside of the shrub. Prune out very long secondary branches at their points of origin, when this is possible. If not, try pruning Japanese yews’ branches to an outward-facing side branch or to a bud. This type of pruning allows sun and air into the centers.
What does a Japanese yew tree look like?
The yew is notable for its spiny, dark-green evergreen needles, which are about 1 inch long. Its leaves often are tinged yellow on the underside. Its bark is red-brown and scaly, and in the winter its foliage may turn a similar red-brown color. The Japanese yew is dioecious, which means it grows separate male and female flowers on the same plant.
How do you plant a Japanese yew?
Planting Japanese Yews. Japanese yews are more cold-hardy than many evergreen shrubs, thriving in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 7. Plant Japanese yews from nursery transplants, which are often patented cultivars. Place these shrubs in full sun to partial shade.
Does Japanese yew make a good ground cover?
Small cultivars make an attractive ground cover. Although yews are slow growing, they usually have a wide spread and will eventually fill in a large area, suppressing weed growth. Small Japanese yew species can prevent soil erosion on a slope or bank, or scramble over a wall or rock garden.
Can you shape a yew tree?
In gardens, yew is often grown as formal hedging or topiary, as its dense growth can be clipped into neat shapes.
How do you prune a Japanese yew bush?
Take off crossing branches and those that turn toward the inside of the shrub. Prune out very long secondary branches at their points of origin, when this is possible. If not, try pruning Japanese yews' branches to an outward-facing side branch or to a bud. This type of pruning allows sun and air into the centers.
How do you shape a yew hedge?
To make a yew tree bushier and fuller, just clip off the outer growth. This heading cut stimulates new growth and makes the tree look rounder and fuller. Be careful not to trim the top of a yew until it has reached your preferred height plus a few inches.
When should you prune Japanese yew?
Japanese yews produce a fresh growth of leaves in spring and another halfway through summer. If you want to control the shape of your plants, trim them in early summer after the foliage becomes dark green. Repeat in mid-August. Cut the stems ¼ inch above a bud, at a 45-degree angle.
How far can I cut my yew back?
You can prune healthy yews (Taxus spp.) back quite severely with no problem. You can easily reduce their size by one-half to three-quarters. Such severe pruning is best done in early spring so they have spring and summer to recover.
How tall will a Japanese yew get?
Japanese yew is a shrub or small tree typically growing less than 2 meters in height (USDA-NRCS, 2017), though in its native conditions it may achieve a maximum height of 10 meters (Missouri Botanical Garden, 2017). The leaves (needles) are 2 to 3 cm long and abruptly acute on the tip.
What time of year should you cut a yew hedge?
In the early years, the more often you clip the side branches, the bushier your yew hedge will become. We would recommend gently clipping in April, July and October for the first couple of years at least (always leaving the growing point alone, of course).
How wide should a yew hedge be?
Depending on plant size, space your plants at about 60 cms apart. More if they are overcrowded. Yew hedging is formal so it pays to spend time getting your lines straight and the spacing even.
How do you fill the gap in a yew hedge?
0:072:04How to Fix a Gap in Your Hedge | Gardening | Great Home IdeasYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf I planted that now it'll get choked out these would eventually grow across. But it would neverMoreIf I planted that now it'll get choked out these would eventually grow across. But it would never look good like to the rest of the hedge. If. I cut these back on a V. And open it up to the Sun.
Why do Japanese yews turn brown?
Too Much or Too Little Water For example, Yews dislike waterlogged soil, so problems with the roots can develop if there's too much moisture at the base of the plant. This can turn the roots brown and can unfortunately cause the plant to decay.
Can yews be trimmed in winter?
Yew hedges are very forgiving when it comes to pruning, allowing gardeners to trim, shape and heavily shear with little worry. Winter is the dormant period for yew hedges, which means they are not actively growing. During the dormant period you can trim your hedges without the worry of removing new growth.
Can Japanese yew take full sun?
Grow Japanese yew in anything from full shade to full sun; it tolerates a wide variety of sunlight conditions. It also tolerates shade quite well for a needled evergreen.
What time of year should you cut a yew hedge?
In the early years, the more often you clip the side branches, the bushier your yew hedge will become. We would recommend gently clipping in April, July and October for the first couple of years at least (always leaving the growing point alone, of course).
Why do Japanese yews turn brown?
Too Much or Too Little Water For example, Yews dislike waterlogged soil, so problems with the roots can develop if there's too much moisture at the base of the plant. This can turn the roots brown and can unfortunately cause the plant to decay.
How do you prune an overgrown yew tree?
Prune them in early spring, apply a balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, and water them through the summer. It may take a few years, but the yews will revive — so vigorously that only annual pruning will hold them in check.
How long does a Japanese yew live?
Astonishingly, the oldest Japanese Yews in the Sikhote-Alin region of Russia are believed to be over 1000 years old. It is one of the most durable of trees, impervious to pollution and bad weather that other coniferous trees may not be able to withstand.
Pruning A Japanese Yew Tree
Japanese yew cultivars range in size significantly. They can be quite tall or very short. Some cultivars, like ‘Capitata,’ grow tall – up to 50 fee...
Annual Japanese Yew Pruning
When it’s time for cutting back Japanese yews, pick up the pruners in spring before the new growth begins. Sterilize the blades by wiping with blea...
Overgrown Japanese Yew Pruning
When you inherit an overgrown Japanese yew tree, or put off cutting back Japanese yews too long, you’ll need to do a more severe pruning in springt...
Sourcing a Japanese Yew
If you are looking to get a Japanese Yew bonsai tree, there are two ways to go about it:
Japanese Yew Bonsai Styles
The philosophy behind bonsai tree styling is to get a tree to look as natural as possible in a miniature form. If you stand back and look at it, you must be able to see in your mind’s eye that it’s standing somewhere in a field, mountain cliff, or next to a river. But no two trees are the same. This is the fun part of bonsai.
Styling a Japanese Yew Bonsai Tree
In my experience, the tree itself will guide you to what style you will follow. Unless it is a seedling or young sapling, which can usually be trained into any style as they’re more flexible. These young trees can normally be shaped to your desire. Shaping a Japanese Yew in a specific style can be done in two ways.
Tools for Styling your Japanese Yew Bonsai Tree
Selecting the right tool for styling your Japanese Yew is very important. Choosing the incorrect tool can:
Final Thoughts
Buying a Japanese Yew and styling it into a beautiful bonsai tree can be extremely rewarding. The tree is very forgiving. It is easy to regrow foliage and to grow new branches. Any mistakes that one makes will grow back readily. With a year’s styling and new growth, you can add a great Japanese Yew to your bonsai collection.
AUTHOR
Styling a Japanese Yew Bonsai The Japanese Yew is an evergreen shrub. It has beautiful dark green, needle-shaped foliage. It is not a conifer but
Pruning a Japanese Yew Tree
Japanese yew cultivars range in size significantly. They can be quite tall or very short. Some cultivars, like ‘Capitata,’ grow tall – up to 50 feet (15 m.). Others, like ‘Emerald Spreader,’ stay short or mounded.
Annual Japanese Yew Pruning
When it’s time for cutting back Japanese yews, pick up the pruners in spring before the new growth begins. Sterilize the blades by wiping them with bleach or alcohol before cutting.
Overgrown Japanese Yew Pruning
When you inherit an overgrown Japanese yew tree or put off cutting back Japanese yews too long, you’ll need to do a more severe pruning in springtime. These trees tolerate pruning well, so there is no problem in trimming out up to half of the canopy.
Taxus cuspidata
Max Van Zile is a freelance writer who contributed content to The Spruce in 2014. Max covered gardening and other outdoors topics.
Latin and Common Names
The Latin, or scientific name for Japanese yew is Taxus cuspidata. The plant shares its dark green leaves with other plants in the Taxus genus, and it is a member of the yew family or Taxaceae. Japanese yew is also known by the common name "spreading yew."
Preferred USDA Hardiness Zones
Japanese yew is hardy to zone 4 and is generally found in zones 4 through 7. Though native only to Asia, it also thrives in many parts of North America, particularly northeastern states like Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Size and Shape
Japanese yew grows 20 to 40 feet tall, though it can reach 50 feet in the right conditions; in cultivation, however, it is usually much smaller. Left to its own growth pattern, the yew is fairly broad and likes to spread, but many landscapers prune its crown much narrower.
Exposure
Grow Japanese yew in anything from full shade to full sun; it tolerates a wide variety of sunlight conditions. It also tolerates shade quite well for a needled evergreen. This tolerance is part of the reason it is cultivated so far from its natural habitat.
Foliage, Flowers, and Fruit
The yew is notable for its spiny, dark-green evergreen needles, which are about 1 inch long. Its leaves often are tinged yellow on the underside. Its bark is red-brown and scaly, and in the winter its foliage may turn a similar red-brown color.
Design Tips
Taxus cuspidata is a popular plant in landscapes. It tolerates pruning well and can be used in foundation plantings or as a hedge, where it can take different shapes, such as flat-topped or pyramidal, broad or narrow. Some ambitious landscape gardeners even grow it in topiaries.
This plant is deadly
All species of yew, including the Japanese Yew, are highly poisonous to humans and animals. This is a fact that you must consider when deciding to use this plant in one of your bonsai creations. The plants must be kept away from dogs, cats, and children.
Cultivars of Japanese Yew
There are many cultivars of Japanese Yew from which you can choose. Here are a few with which you can experiment:
Conclusion
The Japanese Yew is an ideal tree to use for bonsai and they can easily be trained into any shape. They make beautiful leaf pads and new shoots can readily be encouraged.
Planting Japanese Yews
Japanese yews are more cold-hardy than many evergreen shrubs, thriving in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 7. Plant Japanese yews from nursery transplants, which are often patented cultivars. Place these shrubs in full sun to partial shade.
Pests and Problems
The most common problem associated with Japanese yews is root rot caused by wet soils. If you choose a location carefully and amend the soil, you can likely avoid this issue. Japanese yews have very fragile bark. If the bark is damaged, branches above the injury may die back.
How to plant yew
Common yew is a conifer usually planted as part of a hedge, and is often set up at the beginning of fall, but it can also be planted until March or April as long as it doesn’t freeze.
Pruning yew
Pinterest Yew is a tree that loves pruning and can even be shaped to whim as topiary.
Watering yew trees
Yew isn’t a very demanding tree in terms of watering, but does deserve some attention, especially at the beginning.
Diseases and parasites that attack yew tree
Yew is a tree that resists mots diseases and fungus quite well, and its lifespan can exceed several hundreds of years.
All there is to know about yew
Pinterest Native to Europe and North Africa, yew has been used for evergreen hedges for centuries, but it also is showcased as a standalone in the garden.
Smart tip about yew
When part of a hedge, think well about how high you want it to grow so that you can determine the planting distance of your yew accordingly! Keep a spacing of about 32 inches (80 cm) to 3 feet (1 meter) for the usual 6-foot (1.80 m) hedge.
Yew on social media
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Latin and Common Names
Preferred USDA Hardiness Zones
- Japanese yew is hardy to zone 4and is generally found in zones 4 through 7. Though native only to Asia, it also thrives in many parts of North America, particularly northeastern states like Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Size and Shape
- Japanese yew grows 20 to 40 feet tall, though it can reach 50 feet in the right conditions; in cultivation, however, it is usually much smaller. Left to its own growth pattern, the yew is fairly broad and likes to spread, but many landscapers prune its crown much narrower.
Exposure
- Grow Japanese yew in anything from full shade to full sun; it tolerates a wide variety of sunlight conditions. It also tolerates shadequite well for a needled evergreen. This tolerance is part of the reason it is cultivated so far from its natural habitat.
Foliage, Flowers, and Fruit
- The yew is notable for its spiny, dark-green evergreen needles, which are about 1 inch long. Its leaves often are tinged yellow on the underside. Its bark is red-brown and scaly, and in the winter its foliage may turn a similar red-brown color. The Japanese yew is dioecious, which means it grows separate male and female flowers on the same plant. Both flowers are small and innocuo…
Design Tips
- Taxus cuspidata is a popular plant in landscapes. It tolerates pruning well and can be used in foundation plantings or as a hedge, where it can take different shapes, such as flat-topped or pyramidal, broad or narrow. Some ambitious landscape gardeners even grow it in topiaries. It also can be used as a shade tree and grows well in urban environments.
Growing Tips
- The Japanese yew grows best in well-drained soil with medium moisture and prefers sandy loam. The soil should be kept moist but not overly wet. The plant tolerates a wide variety of sunlight levels, including shade, and is drought-tolerant. In general, this is a fairly tough tree that will grow in most areas that do not experience dramatic rains or heat.
Maintenance and Pruning
- This plant does not require a lot of maintenance if it is planted in suitable conditions. It is often grown for the purposes of pruning, though, and the Japanese yew can be pruned into a hedge, a pyramidal tree, or any number of shapes and sizes. Though it tolerates pruning any time, it is advisable to prune in early spring.
Pests and Diseases
- Yews do not have major pest problems, but scale, weevils, and mealybugs can give them trouble. A simple pesticide should take care of any problems. Though the Japanese yew has no major disease problems, it can experience root rotin poorly drained soil. If left overly exposed in a rough winter, it can suffer winter burn.