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The Major Benefits Of Planting Yew Trees In Your Backyard
By DANIELLE RAMOS-SULLIVAN
When looking to plant a new tree, many first think of popular favorites like maple and oak. While yew trees don’t have vibrant flowers or colors, they have other valuable benefits.
Native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia, yew trees are evergreens that can reach up to 65 feet tall and are believed to live for more than 2,000 years.
Yew trees can offer enhanced privacy due to their thick, year-round foliage. They are ideal for creating hedges that block sightlines from nearby properties and busy streets.
The English yew grows tall and is ideal for creating towering hedges that can block outside views. The Japanese version forms a dense, low-growing shrub to border flower beds.
Natural air purifiers, the rough, porous, needle-like leaves of the yew tree are particularly effective at trapping dust and pollutants to be washed away by rain.
Yew trees need minimal care, just well-drained soil with sun or partial shade. Water regularly and use a spring fertilizer while they are young and prune in July and September.
Despite the benefits, yew trees' bark, seeds, and leaves are poisonous if ingested. While wild animals tend to stay away, supervise pets and small children around yew trees.