The yew, usually in the form of the European yew (Taxus baccata) or the hybrid yew (Taxus media), can be found as a topiary or yew hedge in many gardens. Yew wood is very compatible with cutting, but what happens to the cuttings? Read our tips for disposing of yew.
How do I properly dispose of clippings from a yew tree?
Yew tree clippings can be disposed of at a recycling center, landfill or via a container service. Alternatively, it can be composted by chopping it up and mixing it with other plant residues. Protective clothing is recommended when handling yew trees.
Where can you dispose of clippings from a yew tree?
Basically, all clippings that occur in the garden, in addition to cutting back the yew hedge, for example grass clippings, can be disposed of in various ways in Germany:
- Recycling yard or other collection points
- Container service
- Landfill
Most municipalities and municipalities have their own collection points (called recycling centers, for example) where you can dispose of certain waste for a small fee. The fees due vary greatly, but you will usually receive a collective invoice at the end of the season in autumn. If there is a lot of clippings (for example if you want to remove the hedge), it may be worth ordering a container.
Can you compost yew trees?
However, you can also compost the yew cuttings. The toxins contained are rendered harmless by the decomposition process, so you don't have to worry about this. Instead, the problem is that yew wood only rots very slowly due to the anti-rot ingredients it contains. You can avoid this problem by using the yew
- chop as small as possible
- mix on the compost with fruit and plant residues
- only apply the mixture to the compost in thin layers
- use a compost accelerator (€37.00 on Amazon)
But be careful: the clippings from sick yew trees, for example those with fungal infestation, must not be added to the compost. You should dispose of these with household waste.
What happens if you touch a yew tree?
Pretty much every gardener knows that all parts of the yew tree, including the needles and berries, are highly poisonous and can cause serious poisoning. The toxic substance is taxin, which causes severe symptoms of poisoning and even death. To do this, however, you would have to eat parts of the yew tree, for which a few needles or berries containing seeds are sufficient.
Just touching it doesn't have any drastic consequences, but as a precaution you should wear sturdy protective gloves and long clothing when cutting. Plant sap sticking to the fingers can cause at least a skin rash.
How do I prevent pets from getting into the compost?
If the conifer is composted, another problem arises: How do you prevent pets or children from getting access to the poisonous cuttings and, for example, tasting the bright red berries? In this case, the only thing that helps is not to store the compost openly. Instead, close it well, for example in a quick composter that is closed all around. This also has the advantage that the yew remains rot more quickly.
Tip
Use yew wood
The reddish yew wood is hard and at the same time very elastic. In earlier times it was often used to build bows and musical instruments, but today it is used primarily for high-quality furniture. Have you cut down a larger yew tree? Then you can dry your wood and use it, for example for crafts or carpentry work.
