Vic N

I salvaged this yew last fall, planted it in the ground and hoped for some sign of life this spring. Well, I got the sign of life but it's not a very good sign.
It sent out some leaflets, but has pretty much stopped now. There are some tiny buds open, but there is also some die-back and some discoloration, almost like sunburn.
It gets full sun from 10:00 a.m. until 6 or 7. The mix it is in is pretty well-draining.
I'm not sure what to do next. Leave it alone? Dig it up? Burn it? I'm also not sure of the likes and dislikes of Taxus. I do know that this area is heavy clay and foundation plants sometimes spend months in soaked conditions and the rest of the time in hard clay.

I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks, Vic

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JTGJr25

well I'm not an expert on yews but I do know that they like well draining soil and the clay won't do. I also know that they don't like full sun and your conditions seem to have that. These two things could be your problem.

Tom

Vic N

It's not planted in clay now, Tom, but that's what this yew was probably used to. It is currently in a soil/haydite mix. These (as landscape plants) are grown on the South side of homes all around here. Full sun all year.
I could lift it, but would that do more harm than good? Vic

JTGJr25

Ok then the soil is fine but instead of digging it and moving it, you could try placing a shade cloth in front or around it or plant a bush or something in front of it.

Tom

Dav4

If you just dug this tree last fall, it is still suffering from transplant shock. The symptoms you describe are exactly what happens to the yews I collect. I dug three yews from a hedge this spring in late April and potted them up...2 of the three budded out sporadically with minimal growth while the other has done nothing. While I agree that yews perform well in shaded situations with good drainage, they will do just fine in heavier soil and in full sun once established. If this were my tree, I'd leave it alone for at least a year, maybe longer, before potting up. Make sure you water deeply at least once a week through the summer and fall. If the sun is very intense, you may try to provide some mid day shade...I've used patio chairs placed over or near smaller trees to accomplish this. I think the tree will be fine in a year or two. Good luck,

Dave

AlainK

I agree with Dave: it has to recover from transplantation, moving it now would be sentencing it to death. Some die-back is to be expected when you transplant a yew, so I wouldn't worry for the moment.

And I find the idea of the garden chair excellent: not only will it protect the tree from the sun, but it will also prevent heavy rain from soaking it as much as the surrounding soil. I must remember that one...

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Vic N

Tom, Dave, Alain-
Thanks for the input. Last fall I found this plant lying on its side, next to a trash can, and a ball (6-8") of roots packed in heavy clay. I cleaned/pruned it up and planted it. It was a pleasant surprise to see it come out this spring, but I started to worry that there was something I could do to help it along. I'm sure I can find something to provide filtered shade this summer.

Should I forget about doing any pinching this year, and just nurse it along?
Vic

AlainK

Yes, I think that's the best thing to do, you can select the branches you need later.

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Alain K.
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treebeard55

Bump! Any update on this yew, Vic?

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Steve Moore
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Vic N

Hi Treebeard.
This tree is still hanging in there... I don't have any pix now, but could get some if anyone's interested. I left the tree alone last year. It showed some buds occasionally but they never seemed to grow out into anything. This spring I dug it up so I could put it into a training pot and keep it more shaded. The thing seems to have spent all last year growing roots. It also decided to host a colony of termites. I had to take a hose to it at full blast to get them and even that didn't clean 'em out. I think I even let it soak totally submerged for a while. I now have it in a plastic tray that I have drilled holes into for drainage. It is in partial shade for most of the day. Once again it is just kind of sitting there. Some new buds, some extension of shoots, but not much overall.
I've been trying to follow along with a study group on Bonsai Vault, but there are so many things I have yet to learn, that I fear I'm not doing as much as could be.

Vic