Marianne's Response

Yew help

Hello! We have recently purchased a home with a huge yew that has been pruned into a multi trunk tree. I’ve never seen one this large. It must be 50 years old and has seemed very happy for the year we have owned the property. It’s in a small bed off our courtyard. Just recently it has started getting yellow needles, which then die and fall off. At the same time, it has lots of new growth. Is this normal? Could it need more water?

Posted by Molly Vermillion on May 6, 2022

Marianne's Response

Yellow needles on evergreen trees is normal if it is just a small percentage of the plant and the fact that the yew has new growth tells me it is most likely fine. If you live where there have been drought like conditions and the soil feels dry when you dig down a few inches then go ahead and give the yew some water. If you do live in a hot climate then adding a mulch of wood chips on top of the soil would be a nice way to pamper that mature yew tree. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti