Pacific yew

Year-round

This yew likes partial shade and moist but well-drained soil, and it grows slowly with little fuss.

• Give it 2 to 6 hours of direct sun, with shade in the hottest part of the day.
• Plant in well-drained loam. Soggy sandy-to-clay pockets can lead to root trouble.
• Water during dry spells, especially the first two years.
• Deer browse yews, so on Long Island plan on netting or a fence.

Slow, tidy growth keeps a front-yard yew looking neat with only light trimming.

Fall

Fall is a good time to set up roots and deer protection before winter.

• Water well until the ground freezes so needles do not dry out over winter.
• Install deer netting or fencing before the first hard frost.
• Rake fallen leaves off the base and refresh mulch.

Winter

In winter the yew mostly needs wind cover and a break from hungry deer.

• Keep deer protection up, since deer browse yews hardest when other food is scarce.
• Shake heavy wet snow off branches gently to avoid snapped limbs after a nor'easter.
• On windy shorelines, a burlap screen on the windward side limits needle burn.

Spring

Spring is the best time to plant or move a yew and to check for winter damage.

• Plant once the ground is workable, and mulch 2 to 3 inches, kept off the trunk.
• Look for brown or burned tips from winter wind and salt spray and trim them out after new growth starts.
• Water deeply if April and May stay dry.

Summer

Summer care is mostly steady water and watching for pests in the heat.

• Give a deep soak weekly when there is no rain, more often in sandy Long Island soil.
• Keep mulch fresh to hold moisture and cool the roots.
• Check needles for blight spots or insect damage and remove affected twigs.