My questions are numerous my experience limited. I love gardening and have set out to create a one acre formal garden with fountains, walls, hedges, and lots of flowers. I want it to be a place people want to visit time and time again. I want people to want to have their weddings there.
I know big dreams! I’m giving myself a 10 yr time frame.

I live in NJ (US) zone 7b. The property is 250 ft wide 400 ft deep. Sun rises front right corner sets back left. House in front open area in back is about 300 deep 250 ft wide. Grass paths at first with lots of formal rooms, yew hedged. I would like a waterway down the center path to a fountain. (Picture to follow as soon as I learn to post them).

Question #1
I have been reading a lot about yew propagation. I chose yew because I’m concerned about boxwood blight.
Is it possible to propagate directly in the ground?
My idea would be to box out all the hedge patterns remove the sod amend the soil then place a two inch layer of coarse sand over the top. The cutting would be stuck in the sand and hopefully as they root will work into the soil.

Anyone had experience with this or is it just not possible? Thanks for the input.