How to Cut a Yew Hedge (Timing and Renovation)

By Paul Watmore, Director at Grasslands Nursery

Cut a yew hedge once a year in late summer (around late August or September) for a crisp, formal finish — and unlike other conifers, yew can be renovated hard, because it readily reshoots from old, bare wood. Slow-growing but unbeatable for a clean, dense, formal hedge that lasts for generations.

When to cut a yew hedge

An established yew (Taxus baccata) hedge needs cutting just once a year, in late summer, after the nesting season. For a really sharp, formal finish some gardeners give a second light trim. Yew holds a clipped shape beautifully right through the year.

The one forgiving conifer

Yew is the exception among conifers: it regenerates readily from old wood. That means an overgrown yew hedge can be cut back hard and will reshoot — something Leylandii and most other conifers cannot do. This is why yew is the classic choice for long-lived formal hedges and topiary.

How to cut a yew hedge

1. Set a string line for a level top.
2. Keep a slight batter (wider at the base) so it stays green to the ground.
3. Yew has small needles, so shears or a trimmer give a clean finish.
4. Clear clippings — yew is toxic, so keep them away from children, pets and especially horses and livestock.

Renovating an overgrown yew hedge

Cut back hard in spring, ideally one side one year and the other the next, then feed and water well. The hedge will reshoot from the bare wood over the following seasons.

Slow but worth it

Yew grows around 20–40cm a year — slower than laurel or Leylandii, but the density, deep colour and longevity are unmatched. A yew hedge is a long-term investment that can outlast the gardener who planted it.

Browse our yew hedging, or read about when you can cut hedges in the UK.

FAQs

When should I cut a yew hedge?
Once a year in late summer (around late August to September), after nesting. A second light trim can be given for an extra-crisp formal finish.

Can you cut a yew hedge back hard?
Yes — uniquely among conifers, yew reshoots from old bare wood, so it can be renovated hard in spring, ideally one side at a time over two years.

How fast does yew grow?
Yew is slow, around 20 to 40cm a year, but it makes a dense, deep-green, long-lived formal hedge that is well worth the wait.

Is yew poisonous?
Yes, the foliage and seeds are toxic to people and animals. Keep clippings away from children, pets and livestock — especially horses.

About the author: Paul Watmore is a director at Grasslands Nursery, a family-run plant nursery near Knutsford, Cheshire, growing hedging, pleached trees and specimen plants since 1984. Meet the team →