Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), also called Canada hemlock or hemlock spruce, is a slow-growing long-lived tree which unlike many trees grows well in shade. It may take 250 to 300 years to reach maturity and may live
for 800 years or more
.
How long does a western hemlock tree live?
Western hemlock is shallow rooted and does not develop a taproot. The roots, especially the fine roots, are commonly most abundant near the surface and are easily damaged by harvesting equipment and fire. Maximum ages are
typically over 400 years but less than 500 years.
Are hemlock trees good?
Canadian hemlocks in the landscape have flat sprays of lacy evergreen foliage and graceful, pyramid shapes. Their elegance makes them excellent choices for specimen trees. However, the trees are
very tolerant of shearing
. This means that you can also keep them short or use them for privacy screens.
Where is the oldest hemlock tree?
The eastern hemlock grows well in shade and is very long lived, with the oldest recorded specimen, found in
Tionesta, Pennsylvania
, being at least 554 years old. The tree generally reaches heights of about 31 m (102 ft), but exceptional trees have been recorded up to 53 m (174 ft).
Why are hemlock trees dying?
The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) protects its egg sacks with a white, wooly coating. These sacks are parked at the base of a tree’s needles, and hatched adelgids feast on the sap running between the branches and the needles. With
this nutrient flow disrupted
, the needles die, eventually starving the tree.
Do hemlock trees have deep roots?
Though the various species of hemlock have a number of different root system types, the two most common are taproot and fibrous roots. … The
taproot digs deep
and is thicker than the small roots surrounding it. These small roots branch laterally in the soil.
Are hemlock trees poisonous?
Poison-hemlock
is acutely toxic to people and animals
, with symptoms appearing 20 minutes to three hours after ingestion. All parts of the plant are poisonous and even the dead canes remain toxic for up to three years. The amount of toxin varies and tends to be higher in sunny areas.
Do deer eat hemlock trees?
There’s nothing a deer likes better on a cold winter’s day than
lunch
in a hemlock or cedar grove, where the tree branches offer protection from the elements and a sheltered spot without much snow.
Can hemlock grow in shade?
Grows in a pyramidal shape. Prefers a site where
it can receive both shade and sun
. Cannot tolerate drought, wind or heavy soil.
What are hemlock trees good for?
Eastern hemlock is used primarily for
lumber and paper pulp
. About three-fourths of the hemlock lumber produced is used for light framing, sheathing, roofing, and subflooring.
Is hemlock a pine?
Hemlock is
evergreen tree
that belongs to the pine family. There are around 10 species of hemlock that are native to America (4 species) and Asia (remaining 6 species). Hemlock inhabits dense, moist habitats that are characterized by dry, rocky soil.
Is hemlock a hardwood?
Hemlock even gives some
hardwoods
a run for their money as a lower cost, yet strong, easy-to-work furniture stock. … In fact, this softwood actually grows harder with age!
What do the Crow and hemlock represent?
The crow and the hemlock tree represent
sorrow
. The dust of snow that is shaken off the hemlock tree by the crow stands for joy that Frost experiences.
Can you save a dying hemlock?
Combatting Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
The most common method of combatting HWA involves chemical treatments that aid in stopping HWAs from harming the hemlocks. Applied manually, tree-by-tree, treatment periods can range from five years up to eight years or more.
Will hemlocks go extinct?
The Great Smokey Mountains National Park that stretches between North Carolina and Tennessee has already seen near total extinction of the Hemlock tree. There is hope that the pest will not be able to spread into Canada because of the cold winters, but in the
southern US, Hemlocks will soon disappear from wild land
.
How do you treat hemlock trees?
Control Options. Homeowners and private landowners have two treatment options: 1)
spray foliage with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil
at the proper times during the HWA life cycle, or 2) use a systemic insecticide that moves with the tree sap and is consumed by the adelgids as they feed.
