What Is the Best Time of Year to Plant a Yew Hedge?

Which months are best for planting a Yew hedge?

For most UK gardens, the easiest times to plant Yew are during autumn and early spring. Conditions are normally cooler, the soil is less likely to dry rapidly and new plants usually require less intensive watering than they would during warm summer weather.

October and November are particularly useful for pot-grown, root-balled and instant Yew, provided the ground is neither saturated nor frozen. March is another good planting month because plants can begin establishing before warmer and drier weather arrives.

The condition of the soil on the day is more important than following a particular date on the calendar. A mild winter day with workable, free-draining soil can be suitable, while a wet autumn day with standing water in the planting trench is not.

Does the best planting time depend on the Yew root type?

Yes. The way the Yew plants have been grown and supplied determines how flexible the planting season will be.

Bare-root Yew

Bare-root Yew is lifted from the field while dormant and supplied without a pot or large quantity of soil around its roots. It should normally be planted between November and March or early April, depending on the weather and seasonal availability.

Prepare the planting area before the plants arrive. Keep the roots wrapped, cool and damp until planting, and do not leave them exposed beside the trench while you complete other work.

Bare-root plants are often the most economical choice for a long hedge, but they cannot be stored as flexibly as pot-grown plants. The current English Yew hedging product page shows the available root types, sizes and seasonal options.

Root-balled Yew

Root-balled Yew plants are field grown and lifted with soil retained around the roots. They are normally available from autumn until early spring.

Plant root-balled Yew promptly after delivery and keep the soil ball intact. Larger specimens can be heavy, so the planting trench, access route and any lifting equipment should be ready before the plants arrive.

Autumn is often a practical time for root-balled Yew because the soil is still workable and regular rainfall can reduce the watering burden. However, the planting area must drain properly. Yew should not be planted into a trench that remains filled with water.

Pot-grown Yew

Pot-grown Yew can be planted during most of the year because its root system remains protected within the compost.

Autumn and spring are still the easiest seasons. Summer planting is possible, but the original pot compost and surrounding soil must be checked regularly because they can dry at different rates.

Water every pot thoroughly before removing it. After planting, water deeply enough to moisten both the original root ball and the prepared soil around it.

Instant Yew hedging

Instant Yew hedging can be installed during much of the year, but autumn and spring reduce the risk of heat and drought stress.

The connected units contain a larger mass of foliage than small individual plants, so they need careful trench preparation and considerably more establishment water. On long runs, a correctly installed hedge irrigation system can make watering more consistent.

Avoid installing instant hedging during extreme heat unless water is available immediately and the hedge can be monitored closely.

Is autumn or spring better for planting Yew?

Both seasons can produce good results.

Autumn planting gives Yew more time in the ground before its first summer. The soil is often naturally moist, and lower temperatures reduce the speed at which the root zone dries.

Spring planting is a good alternative where the soil is waterlogged during winter or where autumn ground preparation was not possible. However, a Yew hedge planted in spring will reach its first summer sooner, so watering arrangements should be ready before dry weather begins.

On heavy clay, it may be better to wait for a workable spring planting window than to force plants into saturated winter soil.

When should planting be postponed?

Delay planting if:

• The ground is frozen solid.
• Water is standing in the trench or planting holes.
• Wet clay smears and compacts when dug.
• The soil is extremely dry and cannot be watered properly.
• Severe heat or drought is forecast.
• Bare-root or root-balled plants cannot be planted and watered promptly.
• Access conditions make it unsafe to move larger plants.

Yew tolerates many soil types, but it is particularly sensitive to prolonged waterlogging. If the planting line remains wet after rain, improve the wider area, install suitable drainage or form a broad raised planting ridge. Do not simply fill a small wet hole with compost, as this can create a sump around the roots.

Can a Yew hedge be planted during summer?

Pot-grown and instant Yew can be planted during summer, but it is not usually the easiest option.

Summer-planted Yew should be watered deeply immediately after planting and checked frequently during dry or windy conditions. Large plants, exposed sites, sandy soil and planting beside walls or paving can all increase water demand.

Do not rely only on the appearance of the soil surface. Check the moisture within the original root ball as well as the surrounding ground. It is possible for the garden soil to appear damp while the pot compost around the roots remains dry.

Where regular watering cannot be guaranteed, wait until autumn rather than risk planting during hot weather.

What should you do if bad weather delays planting?

Bare-root Yew should be kept wrapped, cool and damp and planted as soon as suitable ground conditions return. Do not allow the roots to dry out.

Keep root-balled plants upright with their soil balls protected. Do not lift or drag them by the stems.

Pot-grown Yew can normally be held for longer, provided the pots are kept upright and watered when required. Check plants daily during warm or windy weather.

For detailed information on planting depth, drainage, spacing and aftercare, use the complete Yew hedge care guide.

Choosing Yew plants for your planting date

Choose the Yew format that suits both your planting date and the level of aftercare available.

Bare-root plants are well suited to economical winter planting. Root-balled Yew provides more immediate height during the cooler planting season. Pot-grown plants provide greater flexibility, while instant Yew is suited to projects requiring an established appearance from the day of planting.

The Yew hedging range includes the current sizes and root types available from Hedging Plants Direct.