Yews are prone to root rot, downspout extension looks like there is not a good connection.

This post was edited by bboy on Tue, Mar 25, 14 at 20:24

bboy, I thought of that, too, but (you can't see it in this pic) it is actually sealed inside the downspout connection that you see. It doesn't leak.

Any chance of dog pee? Those parts look burned.

Could have been damaged in transport and it finally died off. Looks like a spot used as a handle and thrown on or off the truck. Are there any brakes or cracks on the branches? Another possibility is the drain in the gutter clogged and water overflowed from above. Finally, those yews want to be 4 X 5 feet and are too close to the house.

tj

I would cut off the affected portions in case an insect or disease process is going on.

My evergreens get dead spots like that sometimes, and I find they do better when I cut off the dead parts asap.

It could just be the result of the cold, but it's almost certain those spots will not revive, so the plant would look better with them pruned off in any case.

you wait until spring has spring.. to see what buds out...

and you cut out stuff that does not bud out.. as it is dead ... cutting back to a live branch..

it WILL fill back in .. though it might take a year or two ...

it is not a bug issue ...

and you should move it to at least 3 feet out from that corner ... you should always leave a 2 to 3 foot empty spot along your foundation.. so you can clean gutters .. clean windows.. get a ladder in there.. clean windows ... and in this case.. fix the downspout in the future ...

never forget... foundation plantings are planted to hide the foundation .. not ON the foundation...

you have provided no space.. for future growth.. by placing them what looks to be.. 6 inches from the brick ...

good luck

ken