Hello, I would like to grow an 8′ privacy hedge in a 85% shaded area. Is this the best plant for my requirements?
I am in Oshawa Zone 6A.
Thank You in advance.
Thank you for contacting the Toronto Master Gardeners with your inquiry considering the growing requirements for Hicks Yew.
According to the Missouri Botanical Gardens, Hicks yews (Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’) “will tolerate full sun to partial shade”. As a result, they grow best if they receive a minimum of 2-4 hours of sun per day. Hicks yews prefer moist sandy loam soils. The key factor to their success is good drainage as yews will not tolerate “wet feet”. It should be noted that all parts except the flesh of the red berries are toxic to humans and animals.
Hicks yews require regular pruning in order to keep them at the height you require. According to the Morton Arboretum ” To maintain size, prune in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. Prune again in mid-June. Annual shearing should be done after new growth has expanded. Follow-up shearing should continue throughout the growing season. To avoid stimulating new growth late in the season (thus preventing winter injury), do not shear yews after August.”
Happy Planting!
April 22, 2021