Pruning a yew! Help

[Squirrel 87]

Hi I need some advice on reducing a yew by 50 percent. When is the best time of the year to carry out the work and all so do I have to cut back to growth points? I say this because I have seen yews cut back to stubs to compensate a natural tree shape. Within the canopy there's not a lots of green so is 50 percent too much?

 

I'm no expert in pruning trees. That why I ask the question to you guys.

 

Cheers for any advice

[john p]

50% is a hell of a wallop on a yew,if thats whats specced so be it,it will look awful,as long as client realises this hack away,wont kill it though.

[john p]

push for 20%,will look much better for it

[Squirrel 87]

50% is a hell of a wallop on a yew,if thats whats specced so be it,it will look awful,as long as client realises this hack away,wont kill it though.

 

It's about 8 meters in diameter so 4 meters from the trunk. A meter of the crown is over a roof. So the customer wants a meter clearance from the roof. Which is fair enough. Is it best to prune it at the start of march and does it have to be cut at growth points?

[john p]

you will struggle to find growth points at 50% on a yew,prune asap IMO,start of march gettin on a bit

[woodyguy]

Yew will shoot from the trunk however hard you cut it. It will look awful for 2-3 years but then bush out and be fine. I've seen yews with 90% reductions and 5 years later they're fine. The art is to try and produce a shape that won't look too dreadful for the next couple of years. Best to warn the client though.

[burrell_]

i butchered this yew with great reasults not 50% though think ur asking a bit much

[dexta]

Hi Martin, how long ago did you do that and have you seen it since. I have got to do one soon slighter bigger than that.

[Squirrel 87]

you will struggle to find growth points at 50% on a yew,prune asap IMO,start of march gettin on a bit

 

Would the cold weather coming up harm the tree?

[Squirrel 87]

Yew will shoot from the trunk however hard you cut it. It will look awful for 2-3 years but then bush out and be fine. I've seen yews with 90% reductions and 5 years later they're fine. The art is to try and produce a shape that won't look too dreadful for the next couple of years. Best to warn the client though.

 

Thanks for that advice I will tell the customer and see what he wants.