Back (Eventually Undulating) Hicks Yew Hedge - November 2024

I spent a long time thinking and planning and (eventually) buying and planting a full hedge of (at that time) small Hicks Yews across the back of our yard back in 2019.  I planted twelve 1# pots in the Summer of 2019 and they've had (now) six growing seasons ('19, '20, '21, '22, '23, '24).

I picked these because they're shade-tolerant.  And, evergreen.  And, narrow/upright.  

But, I was hesitant.  Why?  Because...well...Yews have a bad reputation.  Ask any gardener my age if their parents had yews in front of their house when they were growing up and the answer is:  yes.  

I was hesitant to use Yews because of what I had grown-up with in the garden.  Everywhere you look in suburban gardens, people have been using Boxwoods.  And, I have, too.  Boxwoods here.  Boxwoods there.  But, after some hemming-and-hawing...I opted for these $5.00 Hicks, upright Yews for the hedge.   

I came across this 'undulating' hedge back in 2019 and have had my heart set on growing something like that across the back.  It wasn't going to be easy - or quick.  But, that first year, I watered the Hicks Yews and by Summer 2020, they had started to get established.  Here they are in August of 2020 - one year after planting.   Here the hedge is in November 2021 - three years ago.  Here are some photos from December of 2022 showing the growth.  And, most recently...the Hicks Yews snuck into this post from Summer 2023 where I was talking about some ferns.  

There has been rabbit damage.  And Winter burn/damage on them.  But, to date... (*knock wood*), I haven't lost one of the twelve.  All twelve original Hicks Yews have hung on and have grown.  Some...more than others.  

I haven't pruned these, nor have all of the gaps closed up.  But, they've most certainly grown over six growing seasons.  Below are some photos showing the current state of the Hicks Yew Hedge.

Below is a look at one of the Hicks Yews height-wise.  It is taller than this flat shovel:

I'm going to keep leaving these growing on their own - with no pruning for at least another season.  

Based on the growth rate (so far), I'm another six years away from that 'undulating hedge', aren't I?

This is part of the Yew update series of posts that are documenting the various shrubs in our yard.  I've posted about the Brown's Yew, the hedge of small Hicks Yews (for an undulating hedge) in the far backyard, the Hicks Yews that I planted *behind* the Oakleaf Hydrangeas in the 'kitchen curved bed', just a few days ago I shared an update showing the growth on the pair of Hicks Yews that I planted for a 'Block I' topiary in the understory garden, I posted a photo showing the pair of Hicks Yews on either side of the entrance to our firepit, I posted a photo showing the pair of Hicks Yews along the fence - behind the firepit border, and most recently, I posted about the three diagonally-placed mid-yard Hicks Yews by the water feature.