Planting & Care of Yews & Hemlock

SELECTION

Select Yews and Hemlocks to be functional as well as ornamental. Allow for mature height and spread of these plants. Hemlocks and Yews can outgrown a haphazard planting. Yews and Hemlocks mat be purchased balled and burped or container grown. Balled and burlapped plants do best when planted in spring or fall, while container-grown plants can be planted anytime the soil is not frozen.

SOIL PREPETATION

Adjustment of the soil condition prior to planting is an important step in successful planting. Yews and Hemlocks WILL not survive in poorly drained soil. Avoid planting near downspouts of low areas until corrective measures for adequate water removal have been completed. Yews and Hemlocks tolerate most soils; however in soils with high alkalinity (pH 6.8 – 7.5) yellowing due to iron chlorosis mat occur. Soil sulfur added to the sol or iron chelates will correct this condition. Did a hole twice the diameter of the soil ball and 6-8” deeper to adequately accommodate the root system. In well drained soil, mix one part coarse peat moss with two parts of the removed soil. Composted cow manure, also available in bags, can be included in this mixture. In heavy clay soils it is best to use only the soul from the hole in planting. Peat moss will only make the soil wetter and more poorly drained. DO NOT ADD PEAT MOSS TO POORLY DRAINED SOILS. A foot of gravel at the bottom of the planting hole or raised beds of from 6-12 inches will often provide sufficient drainage.

PLANTING

Handle plants carefully- by the soil ball or container – never by the branches or trunk. Remove the plant from metal, plastic, or asphalt containers. DO NOT BREAK THE SOIL BALL. The sides and bottom of decomposable containers should be slices and the lip broken off. Cut the top of burlap away from soil ball of balled and burlapped plants. Pull burlap down along sides of the hole. Place 6-8” of the prepared soil into the hole. Position the Yew or Hemlock at exactly the same level it was preciously growing – NEVER DEEPER THAN IT WAS GROWING. For balled and burlapped – set at the top of soil ball. For container potted – set level with soil in the pot. Hold the plant in position and fill soil mix around the root ball until the hole is ¾ “full. Firm the soil with hands and add water until hole is full. Allow water to settle soil. DO NOT TRAMP OR PACK SOILD TIGHTLY – this destroys the soil structure. Filling the remaining 1/4^th of the hole with soil mixture and form a 2-3” rim of soil around the hole to form a watering basin. Additional water can now be added and a starter fertilizer such as Fertilome Root Stimulator can be applied. A 2-3” layer of mulch will keep soil moist, week free and aerated. Hemlocks over 6” tall should be staked. Ask out horticulturist for instructions.

CARE

Proper watering is necessary. On well drained soils, apply one inch of water supplementing normal rainfall each week. Yews and Hemlocks should be fertilized yearly with an evergreen fertilize. This is best done in spring – see our horticulturists for product information. Yews and Hemlocks can be sheared or pruned anytime from early spring to later summer. Avoid large reductions in size and full pruning. Yews suffer from Phytothora root rot, a fungal disease. This only attacks plants weakened by stress or wet soil. Prevent this disease by proper planting, fertilization and watering.