When to chop a yew tree

[Ozz80]

When is it the best time for chopping the apex and some of the thick branches of a yew tree, for compacting the size and encouraging backbudding to create thinner branches that can be wired? Is it possible to do this in mid summer? I am talking about reducing the 50 % of the foliage or more and assuming that the tree is growing vigorously.

 

[leatherback]

anytime you wish to be honest.
But.. June, July is the time to do foliage work on a Yew and expect new buds to still open this year, so I would say you are right on the money if you do it now. Just be carefull with the sun afterwards; The outer foliage that you remove was maybe sun resistent. The inner foliage is shadow foliage, and with Yew that is a massive difference in sun resistance.

 

[Ozz80]

anytime you wish to be honest.
But.. June, July is the time to do foliage work on a Yew and expect new buds to still open this year, so I would say you are right on the money if you do it now. Just be carefull with the sun afterwards; The outer foliage that you remove was maybe sun resistent. The inner foliage is shadow foliage, and with Yew that is a massive difference in sun resistance.

Thanks for the reply!