I really need a canadian yew. Small is preferred. Please send me your want list as my have list isn't up to date.

Dax, Forestfarm has a baccata that appears to be related and has a similar habit, but with dark green needles, rated Z6: Taxus baccata 'Dovastoniana Pen ENGLISH YEW Tube $9.95 -------------------- Description : Dark (almost black!) green needles on pendulous branchlets from wide-spreading horizontal branches & an abundant (usually) supply of bright red berries make this small tree/lrg shrub (to 10-15'x 6')striking. S-PSh My Watnong Gold is showing no gold coloration, but it may be in too much shade. Kim

Ferns, ferns, ferns!!! Sounds like a very cool hedge. I think your concerns about messing it up with dying perennials is well-founded. I wouldn't underestimate the charm of leaving things as they are, with yews and moss. True, you don't get much variety through the year... but is it variety you want, or just an additional element in there? If the latter, have you considered any hardscape? Rocks, a brick or granite edging, or even a stepping stone pathway across/down the slope? If you want plants, I'd go with a combination of rhodos and ferns. Yes, I know this is the conifers forum, and conifers can do a bit in those conditions, but not much. There are some cool dwarf hemlocks, for instance - I love my Tsuga canadensis 'Curly". But overall I'd put in a variety of ferns, maybe some hostas, a couple of hellebores, which I think would be fine in those conditions, and ferns. If you wanted to keep the look formal you could get the big ferns and give them some room - Royal fern, cinnamon fern, interrupted fern... would have to check hardiness on those... or the bigger spreading ones if you want a lower look - tassel fern, for instance. Some fern fronds are evergreen, but they get tatty and you can cut them off any time you like. Ferns and moss? Swoon! I can't stand growing heucheras for a variety of reasons - one is the ascending crown of the plant - and I don't think they'd do well there. KarinL

Cottony scale on yews is comparatively common. But quite difficult to control. Applying a horticultural oil now to control overwintering juveniles is recommended as is an application in June when the crawlers hatch. Otherwise, a systemic insecticide is a recommended approach. There is really nothing else you can do for the trees to "help them fight the infestation" other than keep them in good health as far as water and nutrient needs are concerned. The sooty mold growing off the honeydew excreted by the scale is pretty harmless in and of itself. It's only when the majority of the needles are covered that the tree struggles with its ability to photosynthesize. Hosing the trees down frequently with a high pressure water spray can help to dislodge some of this. I am surprised that these are Pacific yews located on the east coast. This is not a plant that is commonly in commerce - even native plant nurseries here don't carry them. I don't believe I've ever seen one in a cultivated setting (outside a botanical garden) even here in their native environment.