Taxus baccata

Once established, a yew hedge typically grows around 20 to 30cm a year in good conditions, slightly less in its first season after planting while the roots settle. Regular watering in the first two summers, a spring feed and a weed-free base all help it grow at its best. Starting with larger Premium plants or instant hedge elements gives you height straight away.

Yes, yew is poisonous to dogs and cats. The needles, bark, shoots, seeds and clippings all contain taxine alkaloids that affect the heart; only the fleshy red part of the berry is not toxic, and the seed inside it is. If your dog has chewed or eaten any part of a yew, contact your vet immediately, even if it seems well.

Yes. Yew is highly toxic to horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and alpacas, and horses are especially sensitive, so a small amount can be fatal within hours. Plant yew well back from paddocks, fields and bridleways where animals cannot reach it, and never tip yew clippings onto grazing land, as they remain toxic when wilted or dried.

Yew is grown safely in many family gardens, but it is toxic if eaten, so it is sensible to teach children not to eat the red berries or chew the leaves. A closely clipped hedge produces few berries, and male plants produce none. If you suspect a child has swallowed any part of a yew, call NHS 111 or go to A&E straight away.

Yew spacing depends on how wide the plants are supplied: divide 100 by the width in centimetres, so plants 50cm wide go in at 2 per metre. Younger, narrower Value plants go closer, often 3 to 4 per metre, and 1 metre hedge elements are butted together at 1 per metre. The Form Plants team confirms spacing and plant numbers for each order.

Autumn is the ideal time to plant a yew hedge, while the soil is still warm enough for new roots to grow. Root-balled yew is available from roughly October or November to March, and bare-root yew from November to March. Pot-grown yew and instant hedge elements can go in for most of the year, as long as they are watered well in dry weather.

Yes. Yew is one of the best evergreen hedges for shade and grows well in full sun, partial shade and full shade, including north-facing boundaries and under the light canopy of trees. What it needs most is free-draining soil, so avoid ground that stays waterlogged.

Clip a yew hedge once a year in late summer to early autumn, around August to September, which keeps it crisp through winter and avoids the main bird nesting season. For an extra sharp finish, add a light trim in early summer. Shape the hedge slightly narrower at the top than the base so light reaches the lower branches.

Yes. Unlike most conifers, yew regrows from old wood, so an overgrown yew hedge can be cut back hard, even to its main stems. Renovate in spring, cutting one side first and the other side a year or two later once new growth has come through, and feed, water and mulch well to support the regrowth.

The cost of a yew hedge depends on the height you start with, the format and the tier you choose. Value yew plants are younger plants that knit together over a few seasons and suit longer runs on a budget, while Premium plants are fuller and more mature, including ready-made hedge elements for an instant finish. Live prices and sizes are shown at the top of this page, and the team will confirm plant numbers and a full quote for each order.

Yes. You are welcome to visit the Row Town showroom in Surrey, open Monday to Saturday and on bank holidays (closed on Sundays), with no appointment needed. For dedicated one-to-one help choosing plants and working out quantities, book a Genus Bar appointment through our website or email info@formplants.com.

Yes. Our in-house team arranges delivery across Surrey, London, the Home Counties and nationwide, with HIAB or Moffett crane offloading for larger root-balled plants and hedge elements. Delivery is quoted for each order based on its size and location, so send your postcode to info@formplants.com and the team will confirm.