Other hedges and walls also shield the yew from strong winds.
Soil can be amended with sand or gravel for better drainage. Yew also grows well in containers. Get a good, slightly acidic soil from a gardening center and a container with drainage holes.
In heavy soil, gather the soil into a ridge six inches (15 cm) high and three feet (1 m) wide before planting. This will help with soil drainage. [6] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U. K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source
Remember, yews can be left above ground and grown in a container. Don’t ever plant the container in the ground. [7] X Research source
It’s best to let the hedge grow about four inches (10 cm) higher than you want it and then trim it. Do not attempt to cut the top off until the plant has grown. Trimming can be done in any season other than winter. A neglected yew can be renovated by trimming it very short in the middle of spring. The yew will need a few years to grow back to the desired size. [14] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U. K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source
Do add walls if possible to shield the yew from salt splashes. Make sure the yew is planted away from run-off areas. If there is a lot of rain after an exposure, you won’t need to flush out the salt. If your yew is in a pot, add water until it drains from the holes in the bottom of the pot.
In warmer climates such as the American South and Southwest, root knot nematodes may be the problem. Remove the yew if possible. Treat the soil with a fumigant or heat it for six weeks by covering it with plastic. If you see yellow mushrooms near the yew, the plant may die very quickly from Armillaria root rot. Dig up the soil so the yew’s base is exposed. Replace the soil right before winter. To minimize your risk of a honey fungus attack, trim off broken pieces of root before planting the yew. Add compost to the soil regularly.
