AT A GLANCE
How do I recognize waterlogging in yew trees and how do I fight it?
Waterlogging in yews can be recognized by brownish needles, withering shoots, root rot and pest infestation. To combat waterlogging, you should stop watering, set up drainage and, if necessary, water. transplant or cut back the yews.
How do you recognize waterlogging in yew trees?
Typical signs of too much moisture or even waterlogging are
- brown discoloration of the needles
- Initially individual shoots dry up
- later extension to other plant parts
- Appearance of wilt and / or pests
- Rot of the roots and root neck
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Because affected plants initially look as if they would dry up, an accurate (and quick) diagnosis is difficult. Therefore, do not reach for the watering can immediately if it seems dry, but take a closer look at the yew:
- Control of the soil also in depth: dry, damp or even wet?
- Root control: Do roots look healthy or are they brownish, mushy and smell bad?
What is the best way to prevent waterlogging?
Combating waterlogging is also a complicated matter and rarely crowned with lasting success. The reason for the damage is often location-related:
- heavy, loamy soil
- poorly drained soil
- Plantation at the foot of a hill
- Plant on a well-drained lawn
- no drainage possibility for rain, e.g. B. because of concrete edges in the floor
In many cases, actually only helps the affected yews to transplant and cut back heavily. If this is not possible or not desired, you should:
- Stop watering immediately
- also the watering of any adjoining lawn
- drip hoses etc. ä. removed
- ensure adequate drainage of the soil (e.g. B. incorporate sand)
Incidentally, once the needles have turned brown and/or dried up, they will no longer turn green, which is why you should definitely cut back the yew.
Why is waterlogging harmful to plants?
If the yew roots are constantly in too wet soil, they will rot. Decay pathogens settle down, which also spread to above-ground parts of plants and these with a wilt can infect. Rotten roots, on the other hand, are no longer able to transport water and nutrients to the leaves and shoots. The paradoxical consequence is that the plant dries up despite an adequate water supply.
Depending on the severity, waterlogging with associated root rot usually leads to the death of the plant. It is usually best to remove affected hedge plants, improve the soil considerably (e.g. B. by replacing the soil, digging in sand and installing a drainage system) and the to replant the hedge.
How often do you have to water yew trees?
Yews develop deep roots, provided the soil is permeable and loose. Therefore, the conifers can usually deal well with drought and usually do not need additional irrigation.
In fact, you should only water yew trees in sandy soil, as this is often too dry. Additional irrigation can also be useful in very dry summers. However, laying drip hoses or similar for regular watering is not necessary and can even cause a moisture problem in the first place. Therefore, water by hand with a watering can or garden hose as needed.
Tip
Causes of brown needles
If the needles of the yew turn brown, there can be other causes besides waterlogging. For example, the coniferous tree reacts in this way to a poor supply of nutrients, especially when there is an oversupply of potassium. But weak root formation, for example due to soil that is too heavy or insufficient fertilization, also causes brown needles. Therefore, when planting, make sure you have a sufficiently large planting hole, loose soil and plenty of compost.
