Bonsai_Jon
Sapling
I don't have any experience with this type or size. Can anyone give me some advise on taking out? Timing...care, etc. 
A Big Ol' yew
- Thread starter Bonsai_Jon
- Start date
just.wing.it
Deadwood Head
Nice!
Hopefully there's enough to survive that...
I'd wait till late February to dig it if you can.
Hopefully there's enough to survive that...
I'd wait till late February to dig it if you can.
CWTurner
Omono
Yews can have monstrous roots. And they seem to have a couple of levels of the fine roots, so if you collect it with the top 6-8 inches of soil, those roots may not be enough to support the plant.
I have had poor luck with these, even though they're said to be tough. My advice would be to trench around the trunk, say 2 feet wide, and cut down deep enough to sever any large side roots. Then backfill with good soil and let it alone until at least spring 2018, or even the next spring. Might be too conservative, but like I said, I've had bad luck digging big yew.
This assumes the yew is on your property, not somewhere where someone wants it gone ASAP.
Keep us posted.
CW
I have had poor luck with these, even though they're said to be tough. My advice would be to trench around the trunk, say 2 feet wide, and cut down deep enough to sever any large side roots. Then backfill with good soil and let it alone until at least spring 2018, or even the next spring. Might be too conservative, but like I said, I've had bad luck digging big yew.
This assumes the yew is on your property, not somewhere where someone wants it gone ASAP.
Keep us posted.
CW
mattspinniken
Omono
This is a very nice possibility for you, im always looking for good Yews and I think you have a nice one here. I agree with @CWTurner another reason you might leave it is that you want it to be really strong after that big chop back someone did I would actually recommend collecting spring 2019. Especially if it is in a place that you can make sure it gets plenty of water and fert while in the ground. If you are anything like me you wont want to wait that long but my guess is you would have a nicer tree sooner than if you collected spring 2019.
Bonsai_Jon
Sapling
There is no rush. It's on my property. Should I dig down and cut some roots and let it recover in the ground? Should I let the top grow wild?
just.wing.it
Deadwood Head
I'd say yes and yes.
Use a long spade to go around it in late winter.
Really, if time is not pressing, I would leave it there for several years, just to grow out. But each winter, I'd circle it with a long spade to push that root mass back as much as possible before you actually dig it up.
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
First....I was thinking about how big a hole you can dig in your front yard.....
Like...big enough a hole next to it so you can sever the downward growing roots while leaving the surface roots intact.
But then....besides a big ass hole in the front yard....
You still got that, "dug from a front yard" base that will never go away.
For me....if it will always say...
"I was dug from a front yard"
It's never going to be convincing as a bonsai.
And them multi yew bases are the worst for it IMO.
That said...
Why not layer the fat trunk in a good spot and save some headache?
Sorce
Like...big enough a hole next to it so you can sever the downward growing roots while leaving the surface roots intact.
But then....besides a big ass hole in the front yard....
You still got that, "dug from a front yard" base that will never go away.
For me....if it will always say...
"I was dug from a front yard"
It's never going to be convincing as a bonsai.
And them multi yew bases are the worst for it IMO.
That said...
Why not layer the fat trunk in a good spot and save some headache?
Sorce
