Best time to needle pluck and wire yew

Hi everyone,

I have done this in early fall and early spring both with success, but am wondering if there is an ideal time for this work.

Is mid summer ok with a very healthy tree? I know there are some yew experts here, and I would appreciate your comments.

Thanks!

hopefully tomorrow !!

i'm wiring and styling a yew at our show tomorrow - i took it out of the pot briefly and there is a very good root mass, there is a lot of growth from 1,2 and maybe 3 years to work with so i have no problem with the tree health so am happy to style it.

My plan is to remove inner needles from branches that will be shaded from above before wiring so the wiring is easy and it will not trap needles that will then die anyway. This tree has no savage bends to make, but i have no problem with summer styling / wiring on healthy trees - i have put some 145 degree bends in large larch branches this summer and have covered the cracks very well in sealer - this stops the damaged areas drying out and no areas have wilted or died. because the trees are actively growing still the bends set much quicker and cracks heal faster too.

tree health is critical though, and how well it has settled into the pot

Any other thoughts/opinions on this subject? I recently acquired a nice yew and was wondering the same thing...it's healthy and well established, grew strongly this summer but has never been wired or shaped. Only work that has been done is some deadwood carving.

Chris