Question From: P. Long - IOWA
Q: We have yew shrubs at the foundation of our house. The attached pictures show the damage, but what is the cause? We're having a severe drought; I watered them today.
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A: My guess is your yew is suffering from stress factors. Rapidly changing temperatures in winter and early spring will cause yellowing and browning of branch tips and needles. Too little water during times of excessive heat and drought will also do it. Iowa was in drought in June. The grass is also competing with the yew for moisture. Removing the grass under the canopy of the shrub and mulching the soil with good quality organic mulch will be helpful. Take these photos to a good independent nursery that sells these shrubs for an accurate ID. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy
