I am having trouble growing yews in one area along my house. One yew died last winter which probably is not unusual given the severe winter. But now another yew is turning yellow. I was told that they may not be getting enough water. So I started trickle watering them a few times per week. But then a different yew also started to turn yellow. Now I am wondering if they are getting too much water. I replaced the yew that died and the soil seemed to have a lot of clay. I added soil enhancement and peat moss when I replaced the yew. For the others, I just tried those fertilizer stakes. How can I determine the cause of the problem - too little water, too much water or poor soil? Thanks.

Yews do like overly wet soil on a continuous basis. Clay soils do hold water, so be careful you are not making things worse. while evergreens enjoy moisture, the summer of 2013 has been mild with a fair amount of regular rain. The winter has caused a great deal of evergreens to decline and be stressed. If root systems are damaged, only time will repair them. Consider putting up a temporary windbreak for the winter to lessen desiccation to the needles and reduce stresses further.

I have several very overgrown yews that I would like to cut down. Can the smaller branches and leaves be composted safely? I know yews are toxic. Will the toxins remain in the compost? Is it safe to cut them down, just wearing normal clothes and gloves? Thanks