Problem with yews

I’m thinking this might be too much water. There were/are some Nandina bamboo planted in front of these which are quite stunted and sparse looking...wondering whether these two issues might be related. Have scheduled a sprinkler ‘audit’ to try and understand water issue...but would appreciate some expert advice/opinion as opposed to landscape maintenance person.

thanks!

 

When you dig in the soil right there what is it like?

 

Well, I'm not exactly sure how to answer that, because I don't know what I'm looking for. Nothing looks unusual, but at this particular moment it is now raining like mad and I only had a trowel. It does seem to be spreading down the hedge though. I don't think the soil is very deep there as this is one of those plantings over parkades that seem to be prevalent. Maybe 2 feet max. Not very helpful...sorry...

 

What is it about the situation that made you think the soil is too wet? Puddling? Stagnation?

 

Yes, there is often puddling in that area. I think the whole property slopes down toward that area.

 

I should try to clarify as best I can without a photo. The bed the yews are in is about 5 feet wide. In front of the yews is the bamboo. In front of the bamboo is a deeper edge where the puddling occurs. The yews are are above that severe puddling area. When I dug down around the base of the yews, it's not like it's muddy or anything like that...but grass in that area often stays very wet and can be a bit mushy at times.

 

Yews do require good drainage