Shaping a conifer tree/shrub

Posts

• Plantminded Posts: 3,580

  May 2023

  It looks like the side facing the camera in the second photo has had a trim at some time without any harm. As long as you prune lightly and don’t cut into brown wood you should be able to carry out your plan. You could also consider removing some of the lowest stems back to the trunk to clear the area above the lawn, but I wouldn’t raise the crown any further as it might then look top heavy.

  Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.
  
  
  

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• Paul B3 Posts: 3,154

  May 2023

  If that is what I think it is (Yew) , it is one of only a handful of conifer spp. in the UK which readily regenerates from 'brown-wood' .
  

  
  

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• Latimer Posts: 1,068

  May 2023

  Thanks @Plantminded and @Paul B3
  
  I’ll grab another photo, close up, this morning just to confirm if it’s a Yew

  I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 

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• Latimer Posts: 1,068

  May 2023

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  A couple of close ups 

  I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 

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• Paul B3 Posts: 3,154

  May 2023

  Definitely Yew .
  

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• punkdoc Posts: 15,039

  May 2023

  It is Yew, so you can be as brutal as you like, it will grow back.

  How can you lie there and think of England
  When you don't even know who's in the team
  
  S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border

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• Latimer Posts: 1,068

  May 2023

  Amazing, thanks all!

  I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 

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• Silver surfer Posts: 4,719

  May 2023

  punkdoc said:

  It is Yew, so you can be as brutal as you like, it will grow back.

  Or even trim it into a cube as you originally wanted.
  
  https://www.gardenplantsonline.co.uk/product/taxus-baccata-english-yew-cube/?attribute_pa_height=50-x-50-cm
  
  Drastic pruning is known as hat racking...to bare wood ...see link
  Yew copes with that i have seen it done at national trust gardens.
  
  https://www.google.com/search?q=HAT+RACKING+TAXUS+BACCATA&client=firefox-b-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiyr7O0iZr_AhUHgFwKHVRYABMQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1280&bih=595&dpr=1.5#imgrc=tEsm2o_WZ2h7LM
  
  
  
  

  Perthshire. SCOTLAND .

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• Latimer Posts: 1,068

  May 2023

  @Silver surfer thanks for those links! I think hat racking might be beyond me 😂 but I think a cube is the way to go for now.
  
   If I don’t make a complete pig’s ear of it I’ll post the results

  I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 

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• Plantminded Posts: 3,580

  May 2023

  A much easier job for you @Latimer, now I know how to identify an unpruned Yew!  

  Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.
  
  
  

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