What's eating my hatfieldii yew?

Hatfieldii Yew, a broad upright shrub, faces the same core threats as other Taxus x media cultivars. Black vine weevil is the most damaging pest, with larvae destroying roots unseen. Scale and mealybugs colonize dense branch crotches. Deer browse readily in winter. Poor drainage triggers Phytophthora collapse, which can be mistaken for pest damage.

Notched leaf margins from adults; grubs in soil kill roots, causing sections of the shrub to yellow and collapse. Apply Steinernema kraussei nematodes to soil in late summer (soil temperature 5–18 °C). Sticky traps to monitor adult activity. Imidacloprid soil drench for persistent infestations.

Soft brown scales clustered on twigs; crawlers coat new growth in early summer; foliage yellows and drops. Horticultural oil dormant spray; insecticidal soap targeting crawlers in June. Prune out heavily infested stems.

Cottony white wax at stem junctions; honeydew drips and supports sooty mold; needles dull and drop. Improve airflow by pruning. Apply systemic insecticide (acetamiprid or dinotefuran) in early summer when crawlers are active.

Foliage stripped from branches within reach, especially late autumn through early spring. Repellent sprays containing putrescent egg solids or capsaicin, reapplied every 3–4 weeks. Fencing for young plants.