Yew health care question

[Mr. Bish]

Well one of my favourite customers has this yew that before I got there looked in trouble. I have basically ignored the problem and watched to see how it progressed. There is no fungus present and the new growth seems very strong.

The problem showed by turning the tips yellow at first then progressed making the crown much thinner than it was, yellowey with a fair ammount of deadwood. I am very pleased with the new growth shooting from all over the tree but am a bit concerned that the remaining outer growth will continue being patchy.

 

My only thaught was that the railway sleepers put all around the base have somehow poisoned the tree and that me climbing around removing the dead wood will probably cause more damage than it saves.

 

So what do you think is happening and what if anything would you do about it?

 

 

She does have some other yews on her property that appear to have been planted at the same time, they are all very, very healthy so this one sticks out like a saw thumb.

[Mr. Bish]

OOps I posted twice.

[Dean Lofthouse]

It looks to be within it's own contained area, ie walled in, like a large plant pot. If it is isolated, has it ever been fed?

[christreeroot]

When were the sleepers put there ?

 

Sleepers whether they are ex rail or new and pressure treated will leach poison and toxin's into the ground - not very good for the tree... Secondly the weight of all those sleepers will have badly compacted the root area... Thirdly the sleepers will be affecting the amount of water getting to the roots..

 

The only way you can do something like that is by using cellweb as foundations and untreated wood..

 

The yew tree probably wont survive the shock and damage that has been caused even if you remove althe sleepers, Mr winger or myself could carry out some myc treatments ,decompaction etc but like i say that tree has taken to much and prob wont survive.

[Log-ologist]

Further to the good advice given above. Yew trees show similar problems when they are suddenly opened up in an exposed position . Usually by the removal of trees or buildings that slow wind speeds.

[Mesterh]

I'd say youve got nothing to loose by removing the sleepers and feeding/decompacting the ground. At least you would have a load of sleepers to sell on ebay, good firewood I hear

 

I've seen a very large yew that had been transplanted, basically ripped outa the ground with an excavator then moved with a 50 ton crane, it looked very bad for the first 5 years then picked up and as far as I know is still alive.

[christreeroot]

I'd say youve got nothing to loose by removing the sleepers and feeding/decompacting the ground. At least you would have a load of sleepers to sell on ebay, good firewood I hear

 

I've seen a very large yew that had been transplanted, basically ripped outa the ground with an excavator then moved with a 50 ton crane, it looked very bad for the first 5 years then picked up and as far as I know is still alive.

 

The toxins will still be in the ground even if you decompact and feed, so really it would be a waste of money.....

[josharb87]

The toxins will still be in the ground even if you decompact and feed, so really it would be a waste of money.....

 

 

surely its not going to do any harm decompacting and nourishing??

 

(i know nothing about this but would like to learn as and when!)

[christreeroot]

surely its not going to do any harm decompacting and nourishing??

 

(i know nothing about this but would like to learn as and when!)

 

Yes to your wallet at about £ 600 - £1000

 

What is the point when the toxins are in the ground and most likely already done most of the damage...

[Mr. Bish]

I think I will remove the sleepers, make sure the drainage is good, then wait for a few years to see how it progresses. Unless anyone else can come up with something more.

To answer one of the questions. The sleepers were installed about 2 years prior to tree health declineing.

I know nothing of what toxins the sleepers may contain or if there are any soil additions I could introduce to help counteract any soil inbalance.