Taxus Health? (Updated with Pics)

Curious, a few days ago I potted a very very large Taxus in a grow box.  In doing so, I drastically reduced a 4 foot x 2 foot x 1 foot deep root ball into a 25 inch x 15 inch x 6 inch wooden box.  While there is still a mess of fine feeder roots around the base, I think I may have over done it.

I also cut back the upper growth leaving basically a sprig of healthy growth on each branch.

Here's the question, if it were dead or dying, wouldn't those sprigs start drooping, weeping?  Would they lack turgidity (sp?). Lack rigidness?  Or is Taxus a tree that can live a while on reserves?

From this



to this

Just looking at the box it sits in, I would say this is not too drastic. Yews can take a lot. However, from what I understand, a very long recovery time is needed after such an event. As a matter a fact.. I have a yew that has now been just sitting for a year, waiting for me to work on it, after digging it last march. (Which makes me think.. I should post it).

J.

That's what I've always thought about them, but I've never really beat one up like this before either.

I would think if the root zone was dead or too severely damaged that the shoots would wilt, droop. So far, they aren't.

I won't do anything with it but feed the heck out of it for a couple of years.

I'm trying to get it to back bud profusely on the lower reaches of the tree. There are quite a few small adventitious buds where the primary branches start.

I had one die on me a few years back. Main causes of death I have narrowed down to..

- Rootball too wet (Especially in winter) as I left too much soil on the rootball, which clogged the drainage hole
- Thought it was doing great the next spring, and started working the tree

Maybe some shade would be a good idea to reduce transpiration. Yews are shade tolerant and naturally grow under a woodland canopy. Why not get shade cloth and drape it over your tree (it looks really heavy to drag into shade). You can also raise local humidity and reduce water loss by adding damp sphagnum to the surface.

When they where in the field and full power, they take that kind of abuse. I've even cut everything, only leaving a few green needles on the stem and doing the rootwork you did. Recuperation and full box in 3 years (akadama/bims). I've don the same thing (but less rootwork) and putting smaller ones in the ground with good result. After 2 years I did a cleanup of the rootball (of the smaller ones). Several became weak. My conclusion (personal) First action be aggressive, after that don't work roots and foliage the same time if you want a big reduction. The foliage that was on the inside of the tree will turn white / yellow when you expose them, not a drama, but keep semi-shaded for the first year.