yew layering

I've not seen members show this, but, layering a yew can be done. I witnessed this once with a shrub where a branch low to the ground with roots coming out of it. This is the second time I've visited with this yard shrub. With my first examination a few years ago, I saw that there were no feeders close to the base. It was a disappointment, so, I backfilled and hoped the tree would put out new roots on its own. Today, I did find some. Obviously, there are not enough roots to warrant collecting (nor was it in season for this). There are many redeeming qualities in this tree, so, I'm preparing it for collection in a few years.

To start, I want feeders higher in the fat root buttress. To encourage this, I've applied a tourniquet of copper wire to each "aerial" root and dusted with rooting hormone. Then, I added a free-draining soil consisting of akadama, granite, white pumice and red lava rock. These are all in equal proportions. Then, I added chopped sphagnum moss in an equal proportion to my free draining stuff. This mix was added to the hole. I have a plastic netting holding all of this in a tight mound. I've added fertilizer for health. I don't anticipate removing this for at least, another two years.

(sorry I don't have any pretty pictures)

It looks like your technique is working! Please keep us posted on your progress.
Best,
Todd

Peter...It looks like the yew has fine roots near the base - but not perhaps enough to collect. The big woody roots will have fine roots - but too far from the base. I am just wondering if instead of the wire tourniquet - you just collected the tree and used your coarse mix to induce finer rooting - almost like a giant cutting. This has worked for me with Yews - if you can collect some fine roots. In the end you may get the same results by leaving it in place. For me - the concern would be the drainage in the area around the tree as compared to an oversize plastic pot or wooden box - where you know you can create alot of holes. This past year I collected 8 yews along a walkway where I put in a small retaining wall. A few did not make it - but (5) have survived. After a little less than a year - the quality of the root mass varies in each tree from spectacular on a few to average on a few others. For this batch - I did not wash off the roots as I have done with others in heavy clay soil. Instead - I picked off what I could and left the rest. After the first year I pulled each Yew and finished picking out bits and pieces of clay. Good luck with your Yews,,,,Tom

This might be an non question but would copper wire near the roots affect the health of the tree?

tom tynan wrote:Peter...It looks like the yew has fine roots near the base - but not perhaps enough to collect. The big woody roots will have fine roots - but too far from the base. I am just wondering if instead of the wire tourniquet - you just collected the tree and used your coarse mix to induce finer rooting - almost like a giant cutting. This has worked for me with Yews - if you can collect some fine roots. In the end you may get the same results by leaving it in place. For me - the concern would be the drainage in the area around the tree as compared to an oversize plastic pot or wooden box - where you know you can create alot of holes. This past year I collected 8 yews along a walkway where I put in a small retaining wall. A few did not make it - but (5) have survived. After a little less than a year - the quality of the root mass varies in each tree from spectacular on a few to average on a few others. For this batch - I did not wash off the roots as I have done with others in heavy clay soil. Instead - I picked off what I could and left the rest. After the first year I pulled each Yew and finished picking out bits and pieces of clay. Good luck with your Yews,,,,Tom

Tom, you answered your own question in your first sentence.

And Dave, you make a good point about metals being introduced in the ground poisoning the soil. There isn't enough copper here to have any affect on the tree (or even the weeds, unfortunately).....