Yew plucking brown

[MrFancyPlants]

any reason not to pluck the oldest inner leaves on my yew that are starting to turn brown? Would I be removing potential buds or stimulating them by letting more air and light in?

 

[edprocoat]

The inner leaves are turning brown because they are not getting enough light. Once brown they are dead and removing them is ok, the problem is going this route will lead to growth away from the trunk and as you know that's not what you shoot for in Bonsai. The idea is to open up the outer foliage so the light can get in and promote budding in towards the trunk making for a more compact canopy lending realism to the small tree.

ed

 

[MrFancyPlants]

I might as well take the dead leaves off since I seem to be getting plenty of back budding. You'd think having grown this from a volunteer seedling that I would know, but how many flushes of growth are possible a year with yews?
I used to hate the roots on this one, but. You could say that they have grown on me... Pun intended.

I should probably at least remove some bar branches this growing season, right?