What to do with overgrown yews?
rowebsutton
last year
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Overgrown yews in front of house
Comments (5)Thanks for your comments on my shrub problem. My husband worked for the Connecticut DEP for 37 years before he retired and I am very aware of most of the invasive plants. I didn't know that the burning bush (which we had in our backyard until last Fall when we removed it) was on the invasive plant list but I was aware of barberry and, being a longtime garden club member, wouldn't have planted it...for several reasons. I realize that all of the yew bushes should be removed as they have become very overgrown in the 28 years since we planted them but replacing them is very costly and we are hoping to do it gradually. Our house sits far back from the road so we do need something eyecatching and colorful. Thanks, also, for your suggestion about posting on another forum....See Morewhat to do with overgrown espalier?
Comments (8)Petitprune: We're getting a little too focused on terminology here, which is not productive. Vertical branches out the tops of trees are usually called leaders; horizontal branches, often chosen as part of a permanent structure, are called scaffolds, or sometimes laterals. What you seem to have is a vertical branch at the top of your espalier structure that grew more than you expected. If you already have three levels on your espalier, with the top level at 8 feet, I don't really understand why you would want to create another level. One of the principal advantages of an espalier is that it can be worked without a ladder, and if you grow another level you will have to build an additional support and use a ladder to care for the newly created level, presumably at about 11 feet. So my advice would be to keep your espalier at its existing 3 levels. If you want to remove the new leader that grew in, just take your pruning saw and cut if off. Now or whenever. Don't worry about sealers and such as that. I have to confess I don't really see an issue here at all. You have experienced a teachable moment. Espalier culture requires a higher level of pruning attention than stand-alone trees. I see no reason why you should not be able to restore your espalier to its former appearance. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA...See MorePrune overgrown yews or hack them down?
Comments (5)I have several of them, and I'm just pruning them now. I don't like a shorn geometric look, so I prune them a branch at a time, with plain old hand pruners. It's tedious, but I think it looks more natural. The object is to cut out the longest branches, that contain most of the previous year's growth. Yours have gone for more than a year without pruning, but the technique is the same. Stand well back, and look at each plant. Decide what shape you want it to have, and then just start cutting. Here are before and after photos. Again, I wouldn't cut them round like this, but the photos will show you what branches are removed. Look at the wall and window behind the shrub, and the bed beneath it, and you'll see how much it's size was reduced....See MoreOvergrown Yew Hedge
Comments (10)you have a lot of them... pick one end or the other.. and try one or two.. once you finish your research ... if it works... and you dont mind what they will look like for a few years .. then next spring.. have at it .... or remove the two you practiced on .... there is a big difference between what you 'can' do... and what you 'should' do ... and hacking the heck out of these conifers might not be pretty for up to 5 years .... as conifers.... rejuvenation pruning of SHRUBS ... MIGHT NOT BE THE PROPER METHOD ....i will leave it to you to research how to do it properly ... what you are going to end up with.. IMHO .. is stumpy, sparse, ugly plants with big gaping holes that might not be worth looking at for a few years ... yes.. it can be done.. the issue is.. will you be happy about it .... so i caution as to doing the whole line all at once .... good luck ken...See Morerowebsutton
last yearkatob Z6ish, NE Pa
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