MaGGie wrote:

Hi all, I'm new here so if this is not the forum to ask this, apologies in
advance.

I recently purchased a new home that has the most hideous overgrown yews at
the front foundation. This was the big thing long ago I guess. Anyway, I
want them completely gone and the area transformed to small accents plants
and bedding. My question is this, I plan to hack them down and then either
dig up the roots or kill them with round up. These yews (10 in all) are
anywhere from 3Hx3W to 5Hx8W, and so I am wondering how big the root systems
will be? I wouldn't want to have huge gaping holes close to the house for
too long as we are into the rainy season here in St Louis. Any advice
appreciated.


OK, here's an alternative.. You'll robably hate it, but its just a
suggestion..

Yew is one of the few, if only conifers that will resprout from hard
pruning.. Why not cut them RIGHT back.. let them regrow and topiarise
them or something,.. that way you ahve the best of both worlds..
manageable item of interest AND you can still have bedding etc in front
of them..

I personally think bedding is a waste of time leftover from the
victorian era. And only suited to Town Hall flowerbeds and other areas
of civic pride..
But there ya go. Tha's just me :-p

Jim