Common Yew Hedging - Taxus Baccata - Root Ball
A classic evergreen hedge for structure
£144
£180
20% OFF
Rootball
Evergreen
Year round interest
Buy now, pay later
Key information
Yew (Taxus) hedging brings quiet elegance to any garden. Its dense, deep green foliage forms a rich, velvety backdrop to your planting and makes a great divider, lending structure a to both classic and contemporary spaces.
Taxus baccata is one of Britain's most treasured native evergreens, prized for its fine texture and the crisp, clean lines it holds when clipped. In spring, soft lime green growth lightens the tips, and in autumn female plants are dotted with bright red berries, much loved by garden birds. Unusually for a hedge, yew is equally at home in sun or shade, making it a beautiful choice for north facing gardens and the dappled light beneath established trees.
Our yew is field grown and supplied as generous root ball plants in three heights, so you can choose the scale that best suits your garden.
Classic Planting, at 2 plants per metre, gives a hedge that knits together gracefully over time. Established Density, at 3 plants per metre, creates a fuller, more finished look from the day it is planted. This is not necessary for the 175-200cm variety due to the maturity and width of the plant on delivery.
Root ball yew is lifted fresh from the field and delivered from October through to spring.
Delivery & Returns
SOTO GARDENS EDITS AND COLLECTIONS: Soto deliver nationwide for all plants, standard size pots and accessories via our courier partner, DPD within 3-10 working days. You will receive an email asking you to schedule your delivery day. XL pots are delivered in 10-15 working days. Delivery is free for all orders over £75. For orders under £75, we charge £6. Soto Guests, including BIG GREEN EGG, GARDEN TRADING and FLOWERBX are delivered in accordance with their T&C’s. Please see our delivery and returns page for more information. Please contact Soto if you’ve any questions.
Top Tip
Take care to plant yew so the top of the root ball sits level with the soil, never deeper. Yew dislikes wet roots, and planting at the right depth is the single most important step for a healthy, thriving hedge.
How to care for Taxus Hedging
Aspect
Happy anywhere
Yew is happy anywhere from full sun to deep shade.
Care Level
Easy to look after
Regular pruning isn't necessary. A trim once or twice a year keeps it neat.
Watering
Weekly when establishing
Water well when establishing. Water regularly through the first growing season, then only in prolonged dry spells.
Feeding
Compost and mulch annually
Compost. Plant with plenty of good quality, peat free compost and mulch around the base each spring.
Soil
Will be fine in most soils
The Taxus Dome doesn't like soggy roots. Ensure the soil is well drained. When planting add a drainage medium, such as grit or crocs, to encourage better drainage. Taxus tolerates most soil types—including urban and coastal soils.
Foliage (Evergreen)
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Quick facts
BOTANICAL NAME
Taxus baccata, Common Yew
PLANT TYPE
Always green (evergreen)
PLANT HEIGHT (3 sizes)
100-125cm, 140-160cm, 175-200cm
NUMBER OF PLANTS PER METRE
Classic Density - x2 per metre, Instant Density - x3 per metre
HARDINESS
Very hardy
BORDER POSITION
Back of border, boundaries and garden rooms
TOXICITY
If ingested, most parts are poisonous especially the seeds. Wear gloves when handling.
EVENTUAL GROWTH
Available in three heights. Grows around 20-30cm a year and can be kept at your chosen height
How to plant your Yew hedging - Step by step guide
1. Before you plant - Plant within a few days of delivery, on a mild day when the ground is neither frozen nor waterlogged. If you need to wait, stand the plants upright in a sheltered, shady spot and keep the root balls moist.
2. Mark your line and dig a trench - Run a string between two canes to mark a straight line, leaving room behind to reach both sides when clipping. Dig a trench roughly 60cm wide and as deep as the root balls, and loosen the soil at the base with a fork.
3. Improve the soil - Mix plenty of compost into the soil you have removed. On heavy clay, add grit to help drainage.
4. Space your plants - For Classic Planting, space plants 50cm apart. For Established Density, space them roughly 33cm apart. The top of each root ball should sit level with the surrounding soil, so take care not to plant too deep.
5. Loosen the wrapping - Untie the hessian at the neck of each plant and fold it back from the top of the root ball. The hessian is biodegradable and can stay below the soil. Remove any plastic, string or ties completely.
6. Backfill, water and mulch - Fill around the root balls with your improved soil, firming gently with your heel. Water each plant thoroughly, then spread a layer of finishing bark along the base, keeping it just clear of the stems.
7. Aftercare - Water deeply once or twice a week through the first spring and summer, especially in dry weather. Trim the sides lightly in late summer, leaving the tops until the hedge reaches your chosen height. From then on, clip once or twice a year in late summer or early autumn. Always clear away clippings after trimming.
How to prune and trim your Yew hedging
In this Soto Masterclass we show you how to prune and trim. Follow along for guidance on clipping your hedging.
Will's styling notes for using Yew hedging within your outdoor space
- Use yew to create green walls and garden rooms, giving a border a considered frame.
- Clip yew into crisp, straight lines and pair it with loose, soft planting in front for a contrast that feels effortless.
- Plant white flowering plants against yew so the blooms stand out against the dark foliage.
- Leave enough space in front of the hedge for access when trimming.
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Real experiences from people who’ve already transformed their space.
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