Question
I have removed several dead japanese yews over the past two  years these shrubs had been healthy and in place for about i5 years one thing i notice that all the dead and dying shrubs have in common were small cob webs on the lower branches...and help would be appreciated!!!!!  



                               Thanks
                                  Rick

Answer
Rick,
Japanese yews are not normally prone to the same insects and diseases that would plague the English or common yew. I have a feeling though that the cob webs that you see are actually Mealy bugs. These insects suck the sap of the plant, causing it to dry out.
I would recommend spraying them with a highly refined horticultural oil to suffocate the mealy bugs. Make sure that you spray the interior of the plants, since this is where they can be found.
Good luck.
Ed Gulliksen