Yew "taxus baccata" 1-6

Watering is essential for my health. I like my soil to be always moist, but not soggy.

Check on me daily, and don't hesitate to water me every day if necessary as soon as the weather is hot.

Make sure the water reaches my roots by watering the entire root ball in several times or by giving me a quick bath of a few seconds.

But be careful : no saucer and no standing water, otherwise my roots risk rotting. Make sure the water drains well under the pot.

Winter : Thanks to the rain and cold, I require less water. Just make sure my soil doesn't dry out completely.

Depending on my rhythm and the instructions on the envelope, every 3 to 5 years, in spring or fall, depending on my age and vigor.

When repotting, prune my roots gently. I'm slow to react, so be patient.

Use a well-draining substrate (akadama, pumice, etc.) and/or a water-retaining substrate (potting soil, peat, etc.) depending on your region.

At the nursery, I grow in a mixture of black peat, blond peat, topsoil, horse manure, and pozzolan.

I grow slowly, retain my shape for a long time, and am ideal for compact and robust styles.

I lend myself well to structural pruning, especially in spring or late summer.

My new shoots can be pinched to maintain my compact shape.

I tolerate severe pruning well, but always leave a few needles so I can recover; I am capable of sprouting on old wood.

I heal slowly : remember to apply a cut sealant if you prune me heavily.

My wood is very hard and flexible. It is prized for sculpted shapes and worked deadwood (jin, shari). My trunk hollows well, and I age with a certain charm.

I am poisonous. All my parts (except the red aril around my seeds) are toxic to humans and animals if ingested. So, handle me with care and prevent your four-legged friends from nibbling on me.

I need fertilizer about every two months, from spring through fall, to keep my plants in tip-top shape.

In my nursery, I fertilize with a universal organic and chemical blend, such as tomato fertilizer (NPK 12, 12, 17).