skip to main content

Pyramidal Yew - pruning?

14 years ago

Hi,

I am putting in garden bed with some shrubs around the corner of the house. For the visual interest, my landscaper is suggesting a pryamidal yew and I really like the idea of somthing taller and cone-shaped there. But I am wondering about the size. It is small area and the largest I would like it to be is 6-7' by 5-6' (or a bit shorter/narrower). My landscaper thinks I can prune it to keep it at the size I would like. Is that realistic?

(site for tree: exposed north-east, zone 5)

Thanks for your help.

Jane

Sort by:Oldest

Comment (1)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
what is within your physical capabilities is not something we can answer ...

but answer me this.. how will you keep it at 7 feet... are you 8 feet tall ... can you handle working on a ladder with ELECTRIC shears??? will you hire out the job once or twice per season???

etc ...

frankly.. i plant NOTHING that requires annual or twice a year shearing.. i got enough of that nightmare back when mom and dad made me do it ...

finally .. why do you want such a big lump on the corner of the house ... perhaps your landscaper lacks some level of imagination .. if all he can think of is a giant blob of a yew ... on the corner of the house ...

move another 10 feet out from the corner.. and put in a stunning architecturally interesting plant.. as a focal point...

dont get pushed into a green blob to fill space.. which will require annual maintenance ...

perhaps a picture.. and a new post.. will bring you ideas of what the possibilities can bring ...

good luck

ken
Related Discussions
Pruning a Yew
Q
Comments (1)
i think you should find a properly sized plant for your area .. or plant them at a proper distance from your property line ... i cant even imagine what half a pruned plant will look in 10 years .... you might no like what you end up with .... and personally after 25 years of pruning the parents mis-planted mis-shapen bushes .. i dont know why anyone would ever plant a plant that needs bi-annual pruning .... good luck .. whatever your decision .. ken
...See More
hard pruned my yews - can I prune more now?
Q
Comments (3)
Ken - thanks for the link. I wish the GW search had a date filter. I searched before I cut the first time, and when I searched again last week, seemed to be getting only the same (old) results. Maybe Zooba and I should have a "stumps to green" contest. :-) Zooba's at least have a certain architectural quality mine lack. I'll see what mine look like come next spring and replace if I need to replace.
...See More
What to expect from a recently heavily pruned yew?
Q
Comments (8)
I agree they should be fine. In my neighborhood, there are quite a few people that have theirs trimmed like that. One house even has theirs trimmed up to look like small trees or a topiary look, it's kind of cute like that. If you want yours to get taller, just allow the tops to sprout.
...See More
Yew hard pruning question
Q
Comments (2)
Agree with TJ on this. I'd say too that, as your new growth starts to develop, try to not prune the sides inward as you've been doing. I am convinced we're in a monkey-see/monkey-do world with regard to shrub pruning. There is simply no reason to cut in like that, except old George across the street does his like that! Any sheared plant will hold foliage right to ground better if the base of the plant is always left just ever so slightly wider than the top. Not that yours was all that bad, but it could be better, and that is the reason. You don't want upper portions of the plant shading out the lower. +oM
...See More

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Taxus x Media ‘Hicksii’

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Need a strong, silent type in your garden? Hicks yew may be your perfect match

MY HOUZZ My Houzz: Classic Garden Style for a 1745 Connecticut Farmhouse

By Rikki Snyder

A boxwood maze, a sweet wildflower garden and lush plantings surround a designer’s East Coast home

GARDENING GUIDES How to Avoid Overcrowded, Overpruned Shrubs

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Go for a more natural look that’s easier and less expensive to maintain by giving your plants the right amount of growing room

GARDENING GUIDES 9 Low-Growing Hedges That Make Good Neighbors

Define garden areas or borders without blocking the view, with these evergreen shrubs that take kindly to trimming

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow Your Own European and Asian Pears

By Marianne Lipanovich

Try these trees for their good looks, delicious fruit and wide range of sizes — plus you can espalier them

GARDENING GUIDES Designing With Conifers: Finding the Right Garden Bedmates

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

In gardening, building on commonalities creates an enduring relationship

SIDE YARD IDEAS Narrow Trees for Tight Garden Spaces

Boost interest in a side yard or another space-challenged area with the fragrance and color of these columnar trees

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 5 Structural Plants to Frame Your Garden Beautifully

By CYAN Horticulture

Consider these trees and shrubs live building blocks, providing structure and definition in even a small garden

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Boxwood Alternatives Bring the Chelsea Flower Show to You

Don’t let box blight limit your plans to borrow garden design ideas from the renowned British event

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Highlights of the 2012 Chelsea Flower Show

At the legendary U.K. flower show, traditional topiary saw a resurgence, plant communities gained popularity and a new style made the rounds

Sponsored

Red Pine Landscaping

Industry Leading Landscape Contractors in Franklin County, OH

More Discussions

My first online order.

38

Cicadas and Newly Planted Trees

12

What's next? small weeping white spruce (picea glauca pendula).

6

Metasequoia glyptostroboides in z4

18

Potted Van Speybrock Spruce

4