Yew bushes are a popular choice for landscaping due to their lush evergreen foliage and ability to form dense hedges. However, over time, they can become overgrown and need removing. Getting rid of mature yew bushes is no easy task, but with the right tools and techniques, it can be done safely and effectively.
Why Remove Yew Bushes?
There are several reasons you may need to remove established yew bushes:
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They have become too large for the space, blocking windows or encroaching on structures.
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The bushes are diseased, pest-infested, or declining.
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You want to renovate the landscaping and install new plants.
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The yews were improperly sited too close to the home’s foundation
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You need access to utility lines the yews have grown over,
Removing overgrown yews allows you to reclaim the space for new landscaping ideas. It also eliminates potential foundation damage from invasive roots.
Dangers of Removing Yew Bushes
Yew bushes have very sturdy root systems that penetrate deep into the ground. Attempting to pull them out by the trunk can disturb foundations or underground utilities.
Their branches are also quite strong. If you cut the shrub down carelessly, falling limbs could cause injury or property damage. Never try to pull out a large yew with vehicles or equipment.
It’s critical to take precautions when removing mature yew bushes yourself:
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Wear protective gear like goggles, gloves, long sleeves, pants, and steel-toe boots.
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Cordon off the work area to prevent others from entering.
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Carefully assess if any utilities run near the yew’s roots and avoid those areas.
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Have someone assist you in case the job becomes too difficult.
For large or complex removals, it’s advisable to hire an experienced professional.
Step-By-Step Guide to Removing Yew Bushes
Follow these steps to safely and effectively remove established yew bushes from your landscape:
Gather Necessary Equipment
You’ll need:
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Loppers, hand pruners, folding saw – for cutting smaller branches
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Chainsaw – for cutting down larger trunks and stems
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Shovels and spades – for digging around roots
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Garden hose – to soften soil before digging
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Heavy work gloves, safety glasses
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Wheelbarrow for hauling away debris
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Herbicide (optional) – to kill remaining roots
Prepare the Area
Clear away any nearby objects you want to protect, like lawn decorations or garden beds. Remove clutter and tripping hazards from the vicinity. Have your tools and safety gear ready to go.
Cut Down the Yew Bush
As close to the ground as you can get, cut the yew bush down to a stump with loppers, pruners, or a chainsaw. Take care not to let falling branches damage anything.
Dig Around the Stump
Use a shovel or spade to dig a trench all around the stump. Go down about 1-2 feet deep, or below where the main roots begin. This exposes the roots for removal.
Sever the Root System
Once you can see the roots, use an axe or saw to cut through them and separate the big roots that hold the stump together. Pruners can also snip smaller roots.
Remove the Stump
Once the stump is sufficiently loose, rock it back and forth to move it up and out. For extra help, you can also use a winch or pry bar. Taking out as many roots as possible stops the plant from growing back.
Dress Cut Surfaces with Herbicide (Optional)
For any roots remaining in the ground, apply a systemic herbicide like glyphosate to the freshly cut surfaces. This kills the roots and stops resprouting. Carefully follow product instructions.
Dispose of Debris
Move all woody debris to a pickup spot for removal. Chopped up branches can be used as mulch. Larger logs may need hauling away or renting a chipper to break down.
Backfill and Replant the Area
With the yew gone, refill any holes and smooth out the soil. Let it settle for 1-2 weeks before planting replacements. Amend the soil with compost or manure.
When to Call a Professional
For yew bushes with trunks over 6 inches thick, or situated dangerously close to structures, consider hiring an arborist or landscaper to remove them. Professionals have commercial-grade equipment and expertise in tricky removals. They can also grind away remaining stumps.
Proper Placement of Yew Bushes
When planting new yews, allow ample space between the shrub and any foundations, patios or sidewalks. Yews often reach 6-15 feet tall and wide at maturity. Give them room to grow without encroaching.
Find out what size the yew cultivar will get and place it accordingly. If you place things carefully, you can avoid having to do a lot of moving later on.
Removing overgrown yew bushes takes effort but is doable with some muscle and the proper tools. Follow safety precautions and dig out as much of the root system as possible. For problem removals, get professional assistance. With the yews gone, you can give your landscape a fresh new look.
Do not try to remove a yew shrub with your pickup truck and a chain
Some ill-informed daredevils will tell you to back up a pickup truck to the yew, tie a chain to the truck, lash the other end of the chain around the plant, then put the truck into gear and pull it out. Don’t do it. It’s possible for the chain to break, which would be very dangerous, or the pickup’s tires to spin around and dig up your yard without ever getting the bush out. An additional hazard relayed to me by a landscaper is that yew roots are known to grow into a cement foundation, taking advantage of any small cracks. If you use a truck and chain to pull the yew out, a piece of your foundation might come off with it. This will make for a very, very bad day.
Dig around the yew with a shovel as deeply and as widely as possible.
Dig about 3 feet wide and as deep as possible so you have room to maneuver a chainsaw. Dirt and chainsaw blades are not compatible.
How to remove a large bush with regular tools
FAQ
Do yew shrubs have deep roots?
Yes, yew shrubs generally have deep roots. While their roots can spread laterally to absorb nutrients and water, they also have a significant taproot that can extend several feet into the ground.
Are yew shrubs hard to remove?
Yews can be cut back very hard and will grow back. You can trim them down in stages if you are intimidated by them (or become exhausted). I used a lopper, hedge trimmer, and chainsaw alternately to do it. I like the look of the branches arching up to the top like a little baobab tree.
How to dig up yew?
How to remove a yew shrub safely. Use a lopper to cut off the top branches. Dig around the yew with a shovel as deeply and as widely as possible. Cut the small, angled, and sharp pruning saw close to the tree trunk to remove the brush-like branches.
Will a yew grow back from a stump?
Yes, yew trees and shrubs are known for their ability to regenerate from a stump.
How do you remove yew shrubs?
Cut away the shrubs using a chainsaw. Remove the debris using a brush shredder. A landscape contractor may come shred debris for a fee. Flush cut stumps and plant around them. You can get all the tools and safety gear you need to cut down the yew bush at a home center.
How do you care for a yew shrub?
To care for yew shrubs, grow the evergreen plants in well-drained, humus-rich soil that is kept evenly moist. Yew shrubs thrive in full sun to full shade and tolerate a range of soils. Use compost and evergreen shrub fertilizer in spring. Prune branches every springtime to promote bushy growth.
How do you prune an overgrown yew shrub?
To prune an overgrown yew shrub, you can trim back the leggy branches to the woody parts of the stem. Yews are hardy shrubs and can take hard pruning. For example, cutting back a yew to about 1 to 2 ft. (0. 3 – 0. 6 m) from the ground will help to rejuvenate the shrub.
How many yew bushes should you remove a year?
Don’t ever remove more than one-third of the total canopy any one year. Nor should you start pruning a yew shrub by removing an entire section of its foliage. You should instead cut a little off of all four sides of each yew bush when you prune it to keep it looking natural and healthy.
Should yew bushes be pruned?
Nor should you start pruning a yew shrub by removing an entire section of its foliage. Instead, when you are pruning yew bushes, snip a little on all sides of each yew to keep it natural looking and healthy. If you shape your yews annually, you will never have to resort to hard pruning a yew.
How do you cut a yew tree?
To cut down a yew tree a player will need at least 60 Woodcutting, and will receive 175 experience per log cut. Yew trees were released with the Fletching skill and can be used to make yew shortbows and yew longbows, granting 67.5 Fletching experience per unstrung yew shortbow, and 75 experience per unstrung yew longbow.