Question
We removed a 10ft yew and replaced with a 4-5 ft Yew. The large Yew was removed as a result of driveway widening. The replacement did not take, we planted in Spring (same spot) and it has turned yellow, brown and dying all over. I have a 2nd replacement and want to make sure the tree/shrub does not die again. Can you tell me the best way to plant this yew (i.e. soil, preparation etc.). The spot is shady most of day. The yew we removed was very healthy.
Thank you

Answer
Hi CD

Thank you for your question.

The Taxus you removed would have thoroughly depleted the ground of nutrients for quite a distance away from it- so you need to replenish the soil - lots of granular fertilizer and garden compost (if you can get your hands of some well rotted organic matter all the better - but it must be really well rotted!).

I'm going to assume that the new plant is in a container?  

OK - first dig a hole about twice the size of the plant's container.  Loosen the soil in the bottom and put in either a good handful of granular fertilizer or a couple of shovels of organic matter/garden compost and mix well into the soil.  Mix some of the same fertilizer with the soil you took out of the hole.

Place the new plant in the hole - make sure that the top of the container compost is at the same level of the surrounding ground - and begin to  backfill, firming the soil down with your heel as you go - don't be too heavy footed - you just need to firm in the plant.

When the hole is full, rake any remaining soil into a kind of very low 'wall' around the plant and fill the space between it and the plant with water - do this a couple of times so that the plant gets a good soaking.

Because you are planting in the fall (as good a time to plant as the spring, by the way), you will need to protect it from winter cold.  Do this by driving 4 sturdy stakes into the ground around the shrub about 2' - 3' away from it and attach a windbreak material, (available from any garden center or plant outlet), to them.  

The windbreak should be higher that the shrub.  This will stop cold winds damaging the plant and help to keep the temperature up by a degree or two - just enough to protect the plant from frost damage in its first winter when it will be most vulnerable.  Hopefully your new Taxus will come through the winter OK and give you years of pleasure.

I know it sounds obvious - but don't forget to remove the windbreak in spring!