Browning needles on yew shrubs - Ask Extension
I have a couple of yew shrubs planted on the north side of the house but near the sidewalk so they do get mostly sun from spring-fall. I've had th...
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Browning needles on yew shrubs #630690
Asked May 03, 2020, 7:31 PM EDT
I have a couple of yew shrubs planted on the north side of the house but near the sidewalk so they do get mostly sun from spring-fall. I've had them for several years and they were doing well but suddenly the ends of the branches are turning brown from about the end to 6" or so down. Could this be related to the 2-3 nights of cold temps we had in mid April? I don't see any sign of insects. Is this something that will clear up over time or is there something I need to do now? I have attached three pictures which I hope will help you identify the problem. Thanks for your help.
Denver County Colorado
Expert Response
You are not right--this type of injury has been very common this spring because of the sudden very cold freezes this past April.
Watch the foliage for further color changes and the twigs for brittleness. Many of the buds may have survived; if the twigs are still pliable then the shrub is still alive. Do not fertilize at this time, this could stress the shrubs further. Wait until new growth emerges in before pruning out injured foliage. Winter burned foliage is most likely dead and will not green up, but the buds, which are more cold hardy than foliage, will often grow and fill in areas where brown foliage was removed.Be sure to water trees to avoid drought-like conditions throughout the spring, summer, and fall if we are not getting a lot of snow and rain in order to minimize additional stress.