Hemlock firs from the pine family grow quickly and are best displayed individually or in groups. In smaller home gardens, the pruning-tolerant hemlocks can be cultivated as an evergreen hedge.
How do you plant and care for a hemlock hedge?
To plant and care for a hemlock hedge, you should choose shrub-like varieties, place them in moist partial shade and wind-protected areas and use humus-rich, slightly acidic soil. Trim the hedge annually in spring or autumn to encourage branching.
The Canadian hemlock firs (Tsuga canadensis) are an attractive eye-catcher for every garden with their slender growth, irregular branching and branches that grow horizontally or slightly hanging. The pine plants, which come from North America, grow as tall trees and are often used for group planting in parks and large gardens. The dwarf and trailing varieties can also be planted in smaller gardens. For lovers of evergreen coniferous hedges, hemlock is a good alternative to the poisonous yews and thujas.
What to consider when planting hemlock hedges
The shrub-like varieties are particularly suitable for hedge planting. They only reach heights of around 1.5 meters, but are a little more expensive to purchase than the fast-growing trees. Depending on the size of the plant (60-100 cm), 2 or 3 of them can be planted over a length of one meter. The young hemlock firs can grow in height by around 50 cm every year if the following location and care instructions are followed:
- Tsuga canadensis does not like very dry and sunny locations,
- she prefers some moist partial shade,
- Wind-protected areas are recommended,
- humous, slightly acidic soil is optimal.
How to trim hemlock hedge
The hemlocks are known for their tolerance to pruning. The hardy tree often grows with multiple stems; the annual wood branches very well after pruning. Pruning takes place in spring and, if necessary, in autumn. The side shoots and the tips are trimmed so that the plants are encouraged to branch.
Tip
In its native North America, the hemlock grows up to 30 meters high and can live 1,000 years. Particularly powerful specimens have trunk diameters of up to 2 meters.