Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Japanese Yews

Q. I have several Japanese yews (which I yanked up from a yard) which have been
existing for years in tiny 6" plastic pots only half-filled with dirt, in a fairly shady spot.

1. What size pot should I put them in?

A. I would like to see them in no smaller than a 8" pot. When they get past 4', I would put them into a 10" pot. Yes, they do not like their feet wet, but that means that they must have a well-drained soil, which holds water but allows for excess to drain out the bottom. If the medium is heavy in water retention, then their feet will stay wet and the roots [feet] will rot due to lack of aeration. Then it is bye-bye.

2. What type of soil?

A. Adding to the above, make sure it is lightened and aerated with perlite and some sterilized sand. A little bit of peat moss is good, but no vermiculite. Do not just use straight garden soil.

3. What watering regime?

A. Long, deep waterings and not rewatering until the top inch of the soil is dry to your finger. If it is cool and a bit moist, then you know that lower in the medium it will be all the more wet. Make sure that you see water flowing out the bottom of the pot and let it go until it has had enough. Otherwise, keep them on the dry side, but not so to stress the roots and cause foliage burn, especially on bright warm days. Spray foliage with a blast from the
hose daily during heat waves, in the late AM.

4. Will they even like that spot, as they will get lots of hot sun when it comes over the fence from the East and hits them against the East wall of my house. They will get full sun for several hours until the sun climbs past the top of my 3-story house, then they will be in shade the rest of the day. Can they take that much sun? Also, how do I acclimate them from their quiet shady spot to the new blazing place?

A. Yes, the description is AM sun, reflected though it is, and bright. Then, after noontime, they do not have sun on them. That is good. Move them daily for one hour into the bright area, then increase to two hours, then three, and then four to finally set them there for good. Do this over the course of a month. Please do not rush the schedule as you may regret it later. Allow the plants to get used to the increased light and heat and slowly!