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Should I replace this yew?

CraighBCraighB Posts: 758
in Problem solving
Hi guys,

I planted a new yew hedge last November and after having to replace a few of them because they died, it is all now growing lovely!

However I have noticed that all 30 of my baby yew plants apart from one have a main leader in the middle, which hopesgrove nurseries told me not to cut otherwise growth will slow down. Especially as I want the hedge to grow to around 6ft tall.

This one yew however seems to just have branches going out to the side but has no main leader and I'm worried that all the others will grow tall around it and this one will just get lost amongst it all and have it's light blocked out.

Is it worth replacing this one with one that has a main leading stem so that it can keep up with the rest?

Thanks
Craigh

This one has a main leader....


This one doesn't....

Posts

  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    I would put a cane next to the one without an obvious leader shoot and tie in the nearest shoot to begin training it vertically. By the time the surrounding bushes have reached 6ft it will have developed a main stem which may be a year or two behind the others but it will catch up, seems a shame to bin it for the sake of being patient for a couple of years. 
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    That's a healthy looking bush @CraighB so I'd leave it, it will catch up with the others.
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • CraighBCraighB Posts: 758
    Thanks guys I will leave it in the ground then and I will do what @Joyce Goldenlily mentioned and tie one of those stronger stems to a cane and let that become the leader.


  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I'd leave it to do its own thing. 
    Devon.
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