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Conifers Trees Pennsylvania Gardening

Yew tree dropping needles after Winter Storm Riley damage

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Winter Storm Riley nearly knocked over one of my yew trees, and now it has a tremendous lean. When the storm was over I trimmed off about 1/4th of its branches to help lighten its load, and propped it up with a 2x4. It became very green, put out a lot of new growth, and seemed relatively happy. I was happy and figured it would probably be okay.

However, late Summer a few weeks ago it suddenly started dropping LOTS of needles. The bark also looks a little grayer and it seems like it might be stressed. I am worried. Can anyone shed some light on what might be happening?

I have only lived in this house 1.5 years, so my relationship with this yew tree is still very new. Location: Near Philadelphia

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Comments (4)

Jamie Watts
Original Author
5 years ago
I went back and found a photo of the tree immediately after the storm. It looks like it has righted itself a little bit since then:
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
5 years ago
I like it as it is. Yew is very forgiving and will survive a lot.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
im wondering about the crazy stone patio .... and about the tree looking telephone poled .... and what would happen to the patio.. if the tree fell over ???

the bark may have lightened due to increased sun since pruning.. normal and irrelevant ...

ALL evergreen plants shed needles.. its basically cyclical ... according to the plant ... and also ... as it probably is in this case.. increased due to stress .... not to mention increased sun on parts were newly exposed to sun due to the injury and pruning ....

if you note as fall progresses ... around town.. you might notice it happening on various pine trees ... with varying degrees ....

there is only one thing you can do about it ... and that is focus on the growth tips.. and if those are properly green.. and look OK .. then you are all set for next year ...

if the tree trunk was buried significantly.. when ever the patio was built.... the tree is probably dying in tree time.. and removal is probably the only option ... but counting in tree time .. decades.. this might happen a decade from now .. who knows .... again ... there is little you can do about the tree .. and the decision might be more about the patio ... and its possible destruction ....

this MIGHT all happen in very slow motion ... and i am addressing a consideration ... i do not mean to make you flip out and worry about it .. its not like its leaning over the house ...

ken
Embothrium
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Agree that the patio and soil look to have been built over the top of the tree, and that this may be catching up to it now. With adverse effects on the root system caused by the paving project making your yew not able to stand up to strong winds this last time. Otherwise any tree or shrub that has its roots misdirected and deformed by being kept in a container too long at least once during the production cycle - a very common occurrence - may topple during wind or snow episodes sometimes decades after planting.

Frankly I'd think about cutting the yew(s) down, if I had bought this place myself I wouldn't have hesitated to do this - this part of the planting has long ago become "overgrown" (looking too big for the planting position) and scraggly. And since yews are able to grow back from low stumps doing such wouldn't necessarily eliminate the presence of any yew from the spot. With lower, bushier and more visually compatible re-growth then being present for many years, before the window again starts to disappear.

Assuming this continued longevity is not later prevented by the yew(s) having been paved over and filled around.

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