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Canadian Hemlock Trees for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide
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Stately and elegant, Canadian hemlock is a versatile tree that is easygoing with its care. It thrives in all but the most southern regions of the U.S., even as far south as northern Louisiana and Alabama. It grows well in partial shade and asks only for mildly acidic soil that drains well. When planted close together, Canadian hemlocks form a good hedge, though because of their shallow roots, they should not be planted where they get the full brunt of the wind. Here are a few other reasons to like Tsuga canadensis, the Canadian hemlock:
- These slow-growing trees can reach 70 feet tall.
- The leaves are fragrant when crushed and are sometimes used in potpourri and sachets.
- Canadian hemlocks have an attractive natural form and need little pruning.
Plant Care
Sunlight
Tolerates shade well, especially at the southern end of its range; full sun in the far north is best.
Watering
Not drought-resistant; your Hemlock needs regular watering, about an inch or so per week.
Fertilizing
Use a balanced 10-10-10 slow-release fertilizer every spring, once the tree is acclimated to its setting.
Planting and Care
Planting instructions
Site your Canadian hemlock where it will get at least four hours of direct sun a day — or more if you live in the northern end of its range. Hemlocks have a spread of 25 to 35 feet, so be sure to space multiple trees far enough apart so that they have room to grow, unless you’re planning a hedge. Dig a hole that is as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Unpot the sapling and tease apart any encircling roots. Place it in the hole so that the very top of the root ball is exposed about 1 inch above grade. Fill in with topsoil that’s been mixed with well-rotted manure or compost. Tamp down as you go to eliminate air pockets.
Once planted, give the sapling a thorough watering, but stop before water starts pooling around the root zone. For its first year, water whenever the soil feels dry, usually around once or twice a week.
Watering and nutrients
Once established, your Canadian hemlock will do well with about an inch of water a week, either from rain or supplemental watering. It’s a good idea to mulch around the root zone with an organic mulch, such as bark or wood chips, to keep the soil evenly moist. This may allow you to water less frequently.
Fertilize your hemlock in the spring with a slow-release, balanced fertilizer, preferably one that is formulated for evergreens and conifers. Fertilize around the root zone, but don’t let any of the product touch the trunk as it may burn the bark.
Pollination
Canadian hemlock trees are monoecious, meaning that a single tree has both male and female characteristics. In the hemlock’s case, it has both pollen cones and seed cones on each tree, with pollination occurring due to the action of wind. At that point, the pollen cones wither away and seed cones develop into small oval pinecones.
Pruning
Regular pruning is not needed with Canadian hemlocks unless you are shaping the trees to become a hedge or would like to keep them to a certain size, in which case, you would do your major pruning in spring or early summer. You can also trim off any diseased or broken branches whenever you see them, pruning back to a main lateral branch whenever possible.
Pests, diseases, and animals
The biggest pest that preys on Canadian hemlock is the hemlock woolly adelgid. It can be found on the underside of branches in clusters. Horned beetles, as well as the larvae of the metallic wood-boring beetle, may also attack this type of tree. Judicious use of insecticides is your best bet when dealing with large infestations.
Diseases that may impact your tree include Cytospora cankers, which can be dealt with by pruning away branches exhibiting the characteristic cankers. Fabrella needle blight turns needles brown but does little damage to the tree as a whole.
White-tailed deer enjoy browsing on the needles of Canadian hemlocks and may be a problem if they are prevalent in your area. The hemlocks are beloved by birds, including grouse, wild turkey, owls, and more, as a nesting place.
Achieving maximum results
Keep a careful eye out for hemlock woolly adelgids. In some regions, especially in the Northeast, these insects have destroyed whole stands of hemlocks. An invasive insect originally from Asia, they are very small and difficult to see. You can identify them by looking for a woolly white mass on the underside of a branch. They feed on the tree’s nutrients, and if left untreated will kill a tree in 4 to 10 years. Insecticides such as Imidacloprid and Dinotefuran have been proven as effective deterrents, but these must be applied by a licensed pesticide applicator.
FAQs
Is Canadian hemlock poisonous?
You may have read the old story about the Greek philosopher Socrates dying after drinking hemlock tea, but that was a different plant entirely — a member of the parsley family. No part of the Canadian hemlock, fortunately, is poisonous.
How much shade can Canadian hemlock tolerate?
Canadian hemlock is one of the most shade-tolerant evergreens, and, especially in the South, can be grown in almost total shade. The farther north you go, the more you should consider sunlight when deciding where to plant your trees. If your region experiences temperatures higher than 95 degrees Fahrenheit, your tree may be susceptible to sun scorch, and should be planted where hot afternoon sun, in particular, won't touch it. When planted in full sun, hemlocks need additional watering to thrive.
How fast do Canadian hemlocks grow?
These trees are considered moderately fast growing and will put on 12 to 24 inches of height a year until they reach maturity at about 70 feet tall, with a spread of 25 to 40 feet.
What do I need to know to use Canadian hemlock as a hedge?
For use as a hedge, plant your Canadian hemlocks about 5 to 10 feet apart from one another. They should fill in the space surrounding them in three to four years, at which time you can begin to prune for shape. Prune out the central leader (the central top stem), and the tree should respond by putting out additional lateral branches to fill in the space. Prune these as needed.
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Customer Reviews
Beautiful healthy treesSo easy to plant! I carried them from my front door and set them in the already dug holes. They seem to be doing very well. Nice green color.
Canadian HemlockI ordered 6 Canadian Hemlocks. Five looked good and seem to be doing fine. One was puny and had dried stems. I'm trying to bring it back to life. For the price, I expect better
Four starsOne of the four little trees completely lost its needles. The other three seem to be ok. Otherwise, they looked very good when they arrived. Even though the packaging was pretty beat up. Your shipping/packaging method saved them. These things happen.
Mature height |
35-45 ft. |
Mature width |
20-25 ft. |
Sunlight requirement |
Full-Partial |
Growth rate |
Moderate |
Botanical name |
Tsuga canadensis |
Shipping exclusions |
AZ |
Grows Well In Zones |
3-7 |
Growing Zones: 3-7 i Growing zones help determine if a particular plant is likely to grow well in a location. It identifies the average annual minimum winter temperatures across the U.S. provided as a map by the USDA.
(hardy down to -10°F)- Ships in 1-2 days
- 1-Year Warranty Eligible
- Pots or accessories are not included unless specified in the product options.
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