Dense Spreading Yew for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on September 16, 2022

Planting instructions

You can choose either an area of full sunlight or a partially shaded area to plant your Dense Spreading Yew. The soil in that location should have decent drainage but be relatively moist as well. Beyond that, you will find that the Dense Spreading Yew is quite adaptable and will thrive in most growing locations. Remember, as the name indicates, this species tends to spread horizontally more than it does vertically, which means you should give it at least a few feet of space in all directions into which it can spread.

Watering and nutrients

Throughout its life, your Dense Spreading Yew will benefit from a regular watering schedule. Typically, during the growing season, you should water this plant about once per week. During periods that are exceptionally hot or dry, you should increase your watering frequency to about twice per week or more. You can feed your Dense Spreading Yew once every year during the early spring with a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen. However, while feeding will support healthy growth, it is not likely to quicken the growth rate.

Pollination

In most cases, yews come in male and female versions, meaning that you need to have one of each if you wish it to pollinate and reproduce. Interestingly, the cultivated yew, known as Dense Spreading Yew, is a specifically female variety. Since this plant is female, it is able to bear the lovely red fruits that are so appealing to the eye. If you want to enjoy the sight of those fruits, you should plant a male yew nearby so that its pollen can reach your Dense Spreading Yew via wind, resulting in fruit production.

Pruning

You can prune your Dense Spreading Yew any time between late winter and mid-spring. However, this plant does not need much pruning as it is a slow-growing species that will not expand rapidly beyond your control. Pruning for this plant should be light and include clipping only the outermost foliage. This style of pruning encourages your Dense Spreading Yew to develop a fuller and more rounded form. Still, without pruning, your Dense Spreading Yew will likely remain healthy and have a pleasing form as well.

Pests and diseases

A typical yew shrub may face several pest and disease issues in its life, including, but not limited to, root rot and mealybugs. However, the good news is thatDense Spreading Yew is known to have fantastic pest and disease resistance, meaning that you won’t need to worry too much about infestations and infections during this plant’s lifespan. With that said, nearly all yews remain vulnerable to damage from larger animals. Deer browsing is one of the more common reasons your Dense Spreading Yew may be missing some leaves.

Achieving maximum results

One important tip to remember when pruning a Dense Spreading Yew, or most coniferous plants for that matter, is that these plants will not sprout new growth from old wood. That means that if you remove too much of the outer foliage, revealing the old wood behind it, then you will probably be left with a permanent bare patch on your plant. As such, your pruning should involve nothing more than removing small portions of the outer foliage to avoid cutting off too much at one time.

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