How to Cut Back a Hicks Yew Hedge

The Hicks yew (Taxus x media "Hicksii") is a cultivar of Anglojap yew, a cross between English and Japanese yews. It's a common choice for yew hedges because of its naturally upright, columnar form. Mature Hicks yews can reach 20 feet high and 12 feet wide, but are usually kept to a more manageable size. Unlike most evergreens, yews tolerate severe pruning, so with patience and some muscle power it's possible to rejuvenate overgrown Hicks yew hedges successfully. The hedge will look barren at first but will fill in quickly.

Hand pruners
Lopping shears
Pruning saw (optional)
Stakes
String
Level

Instructions

- 1
  Prune out all dead, diseased or broken branches.
- 2
  Look for branches that rub against each other and remove the one with the most bark damage. If the bark on both branches has been rubbed off to expose live wood, remove one branch entirely and prune the other branch below the damaged area.
- 3
  
  Use a pruning saw for large branches.
  
  Insert stakes at 3- or 4-foot intervals along the length of the hedge. Run string from stake to stake at 12 to 18 inches below the desired height for the hedge. You need to trim the yew back below your desired hedge height so that new growth can fill and give you a dense, even hedge. Wrap the string around each stake several times to keep it taut and use the level to make sure the guide line is even.
- 4
  Prune the top of the hedge even with your guide line. Use hand pruners for branches up to 1/2 inch in diameter and lopping shears for larger branches. You'll need a pruning saw for branches bigger than 1 to 2 inches in diameter, depending on the strength of your lopping shears. Remove the stakes and string.
- 5
  Trim the sides of the hedge so that the bottom is wider than the top. This allows sunlight to reach all parts of the hedge and encourages dense growth all the way to the ground. As with the height, prune the yews 12 to 18 inches narrower on each side than the desired final width.
- 6
  
  Formal hedges require frequent pruning.
  
  Shape the hedge as desired. Hedges with flat sides appear more formal and require several trimmings each year to remain tidy. Rounded forms are more casual and need less maintenance. If you live in an area with significant snowfall, be aware that peaked and rounded hedges shed snow and ice more easily that flat-topped ones and are less likely to break during heavy storms.

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