Yew dogs! What to do with cutbacks that made no comeback
I was in one of your garden classes last winter and I
asked about trimming back my yews. I was so unsure about pruning
aggressively even after you said I could, that I came to another of
your classes and asked again after class. I understood that I
should trim them back in March.
I tried to leave the main branches and cut back to a
foot less than the full growth I wanted. I thought I followed your
advice but two yews have no growth and the other two minimal
amounts.
The middle yews have been planted there for at least 5
years. The yew closest to the porch was here when we bought the
house 25 years ago and the yew to the right has been there about 18
years. I can't wait for another year as this is the front of my
house.
What should I do now? Comments from family and friends
include: What grade did you get in the pruning class?... Was this
bonsai? What's with the front? Where will we hang our Christmas
lights?
The advice you gave on my hemlock, dogwoods and
hydrangea pruning worked out very well. Alas...the yews are a
disappointment. HELP. - B.B. -
If a tree dies,
plant another in its place.
- Linnaeus -
Unfortunately, that does happen sometimes. Sometimes it's
because the plant had some inherent weakness. This year it happened
to us, too. We think the weather interfered with the yews'
regrowth, stopping them from pushing out from old wood as they
normally would.
Much more about this topic, and these plants, in ensemble
issue What's Coming Up #164 and in To cut
boldly
If a plant that you cut back, dies,
you haven't lost anything except a plant that did not and could not
fit into your garden scheme. Don't cry over hard cuts that fail to
come back. Consider the now-bare spot as an opportunity to try
something new, and go looking for something that will not overgrow
as the original tenant did.
- Janet -
If a bush is too big, don't ask "should I?" Go ahead and
cut it. If it lives, great. If it dies, replace it with something
better suited! - Janet -