When to trim Yews

Question

The yews are overgrown with some dead areas due to ice damage.

Answer 1

Early to mid-spring is the recommended time for pruning yew shrubs, though you could do some light trimming only in the fall. Also, drastic pruning will greatly reduce its greenery, so any trimming you perform should be light unless you are willing to live with the loss of green for awhile. Yews can be cut back into older branches but new shoot emergence from old buds will take years and new growth will likely be thin and unattractive. However, it should be ok to lightly trim out the damaged foliage.