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Making Yew (Taxus baccata) balls

john.giachardit2gLSyrFjohn.giachardit2gLSyrF Posts: 3
in Plants
I'm looking to start making some Yew balls from young plants, but for some reason I can't seem to find any information about this on the internet even though they're incredibly popular.

Is it as simple as buying young plants (1 litre) pots and then just gradually pruning them into shape? I'd like to have a variety of sizes from 30cm - 60cm diameter. Also would I use just 1 plant per Yew ball or can I combine multiple plants for bigger balls?

Posts

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    A few thoughts here




  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yew isn't generally as easy as other small leaved plants for creating globes/balls, and for creating larger specimens you would use more than one plant to get the density, but either way, it's often easier to start with small plants, or bare root ones, as they're cheaper, so any failures don't matter quite so much.
    You could certainly buy something bigger, and trim it gradually to get the shape, and that might suit you for a smaller end product, but it isn't a quick process to make any topiary with yew, as i'ts quite slow growing in the early stages   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I think you have got the right idea. I have done the same with Box in the past.
    I purchased a Portugeuse Laurel with a straight stem from the hedging section at a local nursery. I checked every one to find the best.
    I removed the lower stems and create a lollipop shape at the top. Under a fiver three years ago and lots of fun training it.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • AstroAstro Posts: 433
    I have quite a few yew balls, some I've shaped myself and others were already shaped when bought. A local nursery does football sized balls for £10 and a large beach ball size for about £15 on a multi deal.

     It is regularly suggested that the leading shoot should be left until it is at the final height you want, removing it is said to slow the growth rate down.  Generally I would start trimming the rest into shape as it encourages new thicker growth. 
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited 18 February
    Just prune to shape.   Allowing a bit of this-year's growth.

    I created a few "bay balls" like this. 

    Ps: I like the name "Bay Balls", it reminds me of the Cambridge dances - "May Balls" that usually occur in June.

    Perhaps not yhe best uni for English Language or Logic???
     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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