Pruning Yew

Yew responds exceptionally well to pruning and can be shaped, clipped or renovated hard if necessary. The best times to prune are June and September. June pruning—after the spring flush of growth—keeps hedges and topiary neat through summer, while a second trim in September tidies growth before winter and avoids cutting into frosty weather. Avoid pruning outside these months, particularly in late autumn or winter, as wounds heal slowly in cold conditions. Use sharp, clean hedging shears or secateurs for small jobs, and a powered hedge trimmer for large hedges. For formal hedges, trim to a slight taper (narrower at the top) to ensure light reaches the lower branches and prevent bare patches. Yew tolerates clipping back into old wood better than most conifers, so if a hedge has become overgrown or bare at the base, you can cut back hard—even into brown, leafless stems—and it will regenerate over two to three seasons. Tackle one side in the first year, the other in the second, to avoid stressing the plant. For specimen trees, remove any dead, damaged or crossing branches in June, cutting back to a healthy side shoot or the main stem. Yew rarely needs thinning unless you want to create a more open structure. Always wear gloves: all parts of yew except the fleshy red aril are toxic. Clear up clippings promptly, especially if livestock or pets have access to the garden.