When is the Best Time to Prune my Yew Tree?

Late summer to early autumn.

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When is the optimum time to prune a yew tree? Why is yew tree pruning important? What are the most prevalent yew tree diseases? Find out by reading on…

The yew tree, of the Latin Taxus baccata, is an evergreen conifer native to the UK. It is renowned for its long life, often living a notable 400 to 600 years.

The Woodland Trust reports that there are ten yew trees in Britain that were in existence before the 10th century, making this tree something truly special.

The yew tree takes on various types, including the English yew, the Irish yew and a variety of common yews including Standishii and Icicle. The yew varies considerably in height and overall size as well as general appearance depending on type. Some will only grow to half a metre, whilst others will reach 20 metres.

Many people use the yew tree as a hedging plant thanks to its year-round privacy screening benefits and pretty red fruits.

Why prune a yew tree?

The yew tree is slow growing so does not need much trimming other than to keep its shape as hedging or topiary. Hedge renovation of overgrown yew hedges will also prove beneficial.

Certain types of yew known as fastigiate yews, including Fastigiata, Standishii and Aurea benefit from trimming of individual new shoots in order to counteract the common issue of the tree losing its neat, columnar shape.

Pruning of yew trees will also offer up the opportunity to inspect the tree for typical pests such as the vine weevil, the tortrix mot, gall mites and scale insects.

When is the best time for yew tree pruning?

The best time to prune a yew tree hedge for maintenance purposes is once a year during late summer to early autumn.

For hedge renovation, the best time of year to cut back the top of the hedge is mid-spring. For hedges that have been neglected for some time and that are showing bare trunk at the base, coppicing may be the best option. This involves cutting back the top growth to within 15 to 20 centimetres of the ground. This should be done in early spring, although it must be considered that recovery could take a number of years.

Fastigiate yews can be trimmed in August to help maintain their shape.

For yew trees generally, shaping and maintenance is usually done twice a year, once in spring and then again in the summer.

Should diseased or damaged branches be detected, these should be carefully pruned out as soon as possible in order to maintain the health and safety of the tree.

What to look for when pruning a yew tree

When pruning a yew tree it is important to look out for signs of the typical pests it attracts. These include the tortrix moth whose caterpillar binds leaves together; the vine weevil which causes irregular shaped notches of leaf margins in the summertime or wilting or death of plants from autumn to spring; gall mites which cause distorted growth and galls and scale insects which cause scales on leaves and stems and leave sooty moulds on foliage. A regular check for Phytophthora root rot is also important.

Tree Preservation Orders

You are not permitted to proceed with any sort of tree work when there is a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) in force. It is important to verify whether this is the case ahead of proceeding and, where needed, you will have to apply to the local authority for permission which can take up to eight weeks to come through. Also be aware that if the tree is situated in a conservation area, permission must be obtained before undertaking works of any kind.

The importance of yew tree pruning expertise

The only way you can be totally reassured that your yew tree gets the attention it rightly deserves is to bring in the assistance of a professional tree surgeon who is adequately qualified and experienced. They will know precisely how your particular type of yew tree needs to be cared for, and will also be fully aware of how to deal with any pest infestations or diseases.

When selecting a tree surgeon, be sure to request checkable references and certificates that prove the qualifications advertised. Also ask to see insurance documents for complete reassurance that you are covered for the work you are paying for. In addition, wherever possible, try to engage a tree surgeon with Trading Standards and local authority approval.

If you have a yew tree that could do with pruning or other attention, why not contact T.H. Tree Services? As fully qualified and highly experienced Trading Standards and local authority approved tree surgeons, we can provide specialist expertise across all aspects of yew tree pruning. For a free, no-obligation quotation, contact our friendly experts on 01268 642814 or get in touch here.