Is this Yew \ Taxus to big to collect?

[mattspinniken]

I have been looking for a big Yew like this for awhile and I think big is an understatement with this one. I have permission if I want to collect and may need to use a tractor.

My main question is do you think it is worth it? Does anyone know how likely the survival would be with something so big? I would obviously reduce a lot and do a lot of carving.

 

[Dav4]

If you were in Texas, I'd say "not too big"...... any where else on the planet and I'd say "way too big" unless you use a tree spade and plant it in a pot the size of a bath tub. If it were half the size, I'd say go for it, but me thinks it's just too big.

 

[Tentakelaertje]

half the size

But you can make it half the size!

 

[CWTurner]

Yews can be a bitch to dig. Before I collected that one, I'd want to see what the trunk looks like without those shoots (look awfully straight in your pics). If its not interesting, I wouldn't bother.
On the other hand, if you can yank it out with a tractor in 10-15 minutes, then throw it in the ground for a year or two to recover, it would probably be worthwhile. See if it lives, then decide whether it has bonsai potential, landscape potential, or landfill potential.
CW

 

[mattspinniken]

It has a nice muscle-y main trunk with some gentle movement but no crazy movement. Then there are a lot of large straight extensions off the main trunk. My thought was to pic a main leader and cut off most of the rest. There are two main sections and I would want to cut one off which basically would cut the plant in half at the base which im not sure would be possible horticulturally.

then throw it in the ground for a year or two to recover

Good point, it may need to turn into a nice landscape plant in my yard at some point. Thinking about getting this into a pot makes the whole idea seem a little crazy.

How much abuse at collection time can Yews take?

 

[Dav4]

It has a nice muscle-y main trunk with some gentle movement but no crazy movement. Then there are a lot of large straight extensions off the main trunk. My thought was to pic a main leader and cut off most of the rest. There are two main sections and I would want to cut one off which basically would cut the plant in half at the base which im not sure would be possible horticulturally.


Good point, it may need to turn into a nice landscape plant in my yard at some point. Thinking about getting this into a pot makes the whole idea seem a little crazy.

How much abuse at collection time can Yews take?

You can cut them way back, to the point where they're almost without foliage...but you need some feeder roots. I collected a large yew, maybe 7-8" diameter trunk at ground level, that actually pushed buds for the next 6 months after collection... the problem was that it really didn't have any feeder roots. It eventually ran out of energy and turned brown after about a year. Also, Unless you get an excellent amount of roots, I'd want to pot this one up in good open aggregate soil...the likelihood of survival is probably better in a pot or grow box then back in the ground.

 

[AlainK]

I'd say it's worth trying when temps won't go below zero (Celsius).

If you have an unheated greenhouse and can put it in a big growbox that you will reduce gradually, it's say it's a 50/50 bet...

 

[GGB]

Well, I can tell you don't have any back problems... yet

 

[mattspinniken]

If you have an unheated greenhouse and can put it in a big growbox that you will reduce gradually, it's say it's a 50/50 bet...

Thanks if I decide to go for it I will definitely wait until spring.... probably April.

You can cut them way back, to the point where they're almost without foliage

Thanks this is what I thought I but I wasn't sure.

 

[AlainK]

You can cut them way back, to the point where they're almost without foliage...

Hmm. Not sure about that where I live.

Here, cutting 2 third of a yew tree in winter is getting a 20% chance the tree will survive. 1 out of five is no good bonsai practice

 

[Nomiyama]

I say go for it. Yews make for great bonsai and I collected two myself about ten years ago. The larger of the two died, but the one that lived is big in its own right. I reduced the roots really well and bare rooted it. Then put it in good bonsai soil and fed aggressively for 3 years. Upon the second repot I worked on just building health and branch density. A couple years ago I had Peter Warren and Minora Akiyama help me carve the deadwood at a workshop. Finally, after ten years I just styled it for the first time this year. Next year I plan to repot and hopefully it will be ready for the 6th US National bonsai Exhibition in 2018. So the moral of the story is yes, go for it and collect it. Just move really slow with it and in time you can have a great tree. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[just.wing.it]

I'd say do it.
In my experience, taxus is tough as nails and hard to kill.
Although....I second the back breaker comment....
From now on, I need to be able move my trees solo, with relative ease.

 

[fourteener]

Is there some rush to get it out of there? Why not take a year or two to make it successful? Cut it down by a third and run a super-sharpened spade around half the rootball one year. Do the same thing next year. Then bring home a plant that will likely live. It's not really taking anymore time. If you just rip it out now it will takes years to recover and probably won't.

Unless they are tearing down the building, there really is no rush. I have a tree out in the wild with a three year plan...no rush.

 

[mattspinniken]

Is there some rush to get it out of there? Why not take a year or two

It's not my property is all, I never said I was in a rush. I'm still not sure I will even attempt it because of its size. I do have a few trees in the wild that I have chopped a few years ago. I think this may be the best way to go. I will ask the owners. Another benefit is that it won't be taking up a lot of space in my garden for the first few years.

 

[Dav4]

It's not my property is all, I never said I was in a rush. I'm still not sure I will even attempt it because of its size. I do have a few trees in the wild that I have chopped a few years ago. I think this may be the best way to go. I will ask the owners. Another benefit is that it won't be taking up a lot of space in my garden for the first few years.

I've dug landscape yews...maybe half this size...definitely not for the faint of heart. I'd really make sure it's worth the effort before attempting the dig and subsequent aftercare. I'm a big guy, but I doubt I could move the box this one will need to be put in by myself.

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

i've dug bigger. You must have some luck with the roots. They can survive with minimal foliage when digged and with some feeder roots, most of the time they have some fine roots close to the trunk. They don't like being messed with 2 years in a row. Box it in a good growing medium from the start.

 

[mattspinniken]

Would love to see pics of your collected Yews if anyone has any.

 

[Gene Deci]

What attracts me is the all the greenery around the base. Unusual for a yew that size. If you are excited by your design idea (I've seen a spectacular hollow truck yew that was probably cut in half at some point.) I would cut the top off and then take it out of the ground. If it has some feeder roots close to the base, they wouldn't have much foliage to support. Get it into a big grow box and, as has been pointed out, leave it undisturbed for a couple of years or more. Small price to pay when you consider how long it took to grow to that size. I assume the owner wants it gone anyway, so why not give it a try.

 

[jeanluc83]

I'm not sure that I would collect it. I can't help thinking of how much a pot would cost to put it in. If you are up for the challenge go for it.

I have read that they can be deceptive after collection. They can live for years off stored resources making you think they have recovered when they have not.

 

[mattspinniken]

so why not give it a try.

Thanks Gene, as you know I always respect your opinion. It is true that the owner doesn't want the tree and it will be gone at some point in the next few years regardless.