I have several yew trees in front of my house which were pruned into a kind of squarish hedge when I moved in 10 years or so ago. I didn't like the look of the hedge and have not done much with the trees over the years except let them get overgrown and then hack at them from time to time. They are very forgiving and quite energetic growers.

I really like them because birds seem to enjoy the berries and some times there are even nests and things in them. I have decided maybe I want to get them looking better, but I'm facing a problem. They seem to be two different types of trees. They are all yews, but some of them are more upright and the others definitely grow horizontally and are more feathery.

I don't want to prune them into tight shapes. I want them reasonably low, but natural and healthy looking. They don't have to match. My question is: do the different styles require different pruning techniques to keep them looking good?

I realize yews aren't conifers, but I thought I would start here.

There are four of the horizontal growers and two of the vertical growers. The vertical growers look most like what you see in hedges and cemeteries and such.