Yews are a medium size evergreen tree that have needles for leaves. They can often be found in church graveyards across the UK and it is also a popular hedge as it can get very dense foliage.
They are very popular as bonsai in the UK and Europe and they can make amazing trees.
In 2017 I air layered a branch off a full size English Yew tree (Taxus Baccata). I still have this Yew and you can see how it is developing in my Yew Bonsai Progression.
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What Is The Natural Habitat of A Yew Tree?
Although the Yew tree is often called ‘English Yew’ it is also native across most of central Europe.
This means that it can handle a range of different climates.
What Soil Do Yew Bonsai Need?
Yew bonsai like free draining soil. They do not like soil that is constantly wet and if anything prefer things to be a little drier.
I use my standard mix of equal parts Perlite/Molar Clay/Compost and have not had any trouble as this is a free draining mix that keeps things nicely damp and never too wet.
(For more info on soil read – A General Guide To Bonsai Soil)
How Do you Water A Yew Bonsai?
Yew bonsai like to be kept slightly dry. They should be watered just as the soil is starting to dry out. I would not let them actually fully dry out though.
They do not like to be sat in water for too long. Using a well draining soil will make sure they can remain moist and not become too wet.
(For more info you can read –How To Water A Bonsai)
How Much Sun Light Does A Yew Bonsai Need?
Yew trees can take full sun. They will grow in the shade, but they prefer the full sun.
The more light they get, the stronger they will grow.
How Hardy Are Yew Bonsai?
Yew trees are fully hardy in the UK and can handle frost with no trouble.
In bonsai pots they may not be able to handle super low temperatures, but they should be able to handle everything the UK can throw at them. I leave mine unprotected all year with no problems.
If you are somewhere where things get a little colder, I would consider protecting them if the temperature is going to below freezing for a long time. Something as simple as an unheated shed should be more than enough to take the edge off and keep them safe.
(For more info you can read – Working Out How To Over Winter Bonsai Trees)
How Often Do You Feed A Yew Bonsai?
I feed my Yew bonsai once a month during the growing season with a general all purpose fertiliser which is more than enough to keep them happy.
(For more info you can read – Do You Need To Use “Bonsai” Fertiliser?)
How Do Yew Bonsai Respond to Pruning?
Yew bonsai respond very well to pruning and you can easily build a very dense canopy .
To promote back budding on a Yew you need to remove last years needles in early July time. (New buds will form here next spring). About Two weeks later return to the tree and cut back this years growth so that around 6-8 needles are left.
That is all you need to do. Yews are slow growing so you are not going to see the results of this operation until the following spring, but if you do this for a number of years you can really build up the foliage.
(For more info you can read- How To Prune A Bonsai Tree)
Repotting A Yew Bonsai
Yew bonsai can be repotted in spring when the shoots are starting to swell. I have heard they can also be repotted in the height of summer with even better results.
I am yet to personally test this, but I believe it should be possible (Graham Potter, a bonsai expert form the UK does this and I would trust anything he says).
(For more info you can read – How To Repot A Bonsai Tree)
Wiring A Yew Bonsai
Yew bonsai can be easily wired and initial branch placement will require wiring.
Yews grow in a very upward fashion but to make them look much older we need to wire the branches in a more downward direction, which can only be achieved though wiring.
(For more info read – Why Do We Wire Bonsai?)
What Is The Leaf Pattern Of A Yew Bonsai?
Yews are made of needles that grow opposite to each other along the branch.
What Pests Does A Yew Bonsai Suffer From?
Scale and spider mites are common problems with Yew bonsai, but are easily treated.
If you have a healthy tree you shoudlnt have any problems but it is good to check often and deal with anything that might be happening quickly.
Can You Propagate A Yew Bonsai?
Yews are best propagated from cuttings or air layers.
Cuttings can be quite slow to root, but given the right conditions they will. You may need to leave them for a long time, but they can root.
Your best option will be air layers or digging a tree out of the ground.
What Is The Growth Rate Of A Yew Bonsai?
Yew bonsai are very slow growing.
They also take a long time to thicken and mature. If possible you should try and grow from an air layer, or dig one out of the ground.
Growing from a cuttings will be a very slow process and you would probably need to put these cuttings into the ground for a number of years to get some thickness to them.
Should You Get A Yew Bonsai?
Yews make fantastic bonsai and can be some of the best trees you will ever see. You can read more information – Is Yew A Good Tree For Bonsai
There wood is very hard and makes excellent deadwood. They are not too difficult to look after and are easy to style and get very dense foliage.
They just take a very long time to develop, but are worth the work.
If you are finding this article useful you should also check out my YouTube Channel, I post new video’s every Sunday.
I like to show each of my Bonsai trees journey throughout the year in a sort of time lapse, along with some tips and techniques throughout the video.
Hi, I’m Ian. I have been doing bonsai since 2014. I created this site to spread all the knowledge I have acquired over the years. Don’t forget to check out my Youtube videos where I show the progress of my own Bonsai each week or connect with me on social media.
You can read more about me and how I got into Bonsai on the About Page
