Relocating a well established yew bush

Posts

• Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494

  January 2023

  It might depend on how big the bush is but I'd certainly think twice about moving it.

  North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone

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• Joyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933

  January 2023

  It would be a massive job. You would need to lift the root ball which could be quite sizeable and it would take several years for the tree to re-establish itself. How you would be able to give it enough water to keep it going would be another huge job as well as how to stake it to keep it stable. Ropes and hawsers job.
  I do not think it is a brilliant idea but it is your decision ultimately.

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• bédé Posts: 3,095

  January 2023 edited January 2023

  How important is the spot to your new plans?  It might be worth the risk of a move.  If you have the time, do the job over, say, 2 years.  Starting by reducing the root ball with a ring of slits with a spade.  Water well before the final dig-up and keep it well watered for the next 2 years plus.
  
  There is bound to be a U-tube or two.
  
  It can be done, but with planning.

   location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
  "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."

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• Robert West Posts: 241

  January 2023

  Yeah, as said above if it's got any chance of survival you'll need to dig a thin deep ring around it and then water copiously for maybe six months to a year to encourage the tree to put out new smaller roots from the thick ones you've chopped through. I'm no tree expert but I suspect the roots close to a tree that old are not the ones absorbing most it's water, they'll be too thick and old for that. Need to get it to make lots of new ones. 

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• Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

  January 2023

  This was covered by the Beechgrove team a few yrs ago-
  https://www.beechgrove.co.uk/module_uploads/2/Factsheet_2018_-_Prog_3_red.pdf
  
  The above article shows how to prepare for moving in the Spring (page 7)
  If you search the Beechgrove FactSheet archive, they showed later in the year the moving process - but that was basically just dig a big hole and put the prepared shrub into it.

  
  Billericay - Essex
  
  Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
  Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

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• madeleinecolin Posts: 2

  January 2023

  It sounds as though too risky to try to relocate the 20 year old Yew, so my thanks to everyone as I wanted to fill in a large gap with a tall plant to quickly provide privacy. Colin 

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• Joyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933

  January 2023

  Yew is not a good choice if you want quick growth. They grow really slowly. Remember, if you plant something which grows quickly, it will not stop when it reaches the height you want. You will then have to regularly cut back, whatever it is, to keep it under control. Leylandii conifers are a classic example, they can grow 6/8 ft per year, take all the moisture and nutrients out of the ground, and need trimming twice a year to keep under control.

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• Fairygirl Posts: 55,117

  January 2023

  The problem with 'quick growing' plants is - they don't conveniently stop, as @Joyce Goldenlily describes. You have to be prepared to maintain them.
  What sort of gap do you have there @madeleinecolin? Would it be possible to use a screen of trellis or similar, and use a climber instead?
  Another trick is to put a door or gate in to look as if it leads to another garden, but it does depend on what your site is 

  It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
  
  
  
  I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...

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• Plantminded Posts: 3,580

  January 2023

  A photo of the gap you're hoping to fill could help with suggestions @madeleinecolin - seeing the context helps!

  Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.
  
  
  

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