Eastern hemlock

[PA_Penjing]

I’ve been inspired by @ABCarve and @MrFancyPlants for quite a while now, and finally got around to getting a hemlock (tsuga canadensis). It’s my state tree and I think it would be pretty fitting to have it as my foremost tree. My only hesitation with the species is that my urban back yard really boils in the summer but if I could keep englemann spruce and jack pine happy I think this tree should be much better off, at least until I buy that wooded property, someday… I brought it home today and inoculated the soil with “microbe brew” fungi. So the three types of myco can do their thing while I start deep diving on the species. Just keeping it happy and trying to figure out where to put it for now, it’s too big to fit in my bench at over 3 feet tall and very wide. Lots of green right next to the trunk, so I’m very excited to cut this back and keep those alive, just need to figure out when. Obligatory pic attached shows nothing, but, there is nothing to see yet.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

Looks great; I am jealous to be starting with some fresh material like that. I think it will do fine in your climate.

Take your time with it, but maybe start by removing duplicative and awkward branches whilst preserving inner growth wherever you can. You can consider switching over to an Anderson flat next Spring?

You wouldn’t have to do it in one go like I did, but they can handle moderately heavy root work in my experience. I didn’t even keep it shaded after repotting.

 

[PA_Penjing]

Take your time with it, but maybe start by removing duplicative and awkward branches whilst preserving inner growth wherever you can. You can consider switching over to an Anderson flat next Spring?

I'm thinking this fall I will trim some tips back and get at it a little harder around June. I'm not completely inexperienced, but I truly don't know much of anything about the genus until I do some research (at least in terms of bonsai). I'm not sure how hard ill go on the roots just yet, I bought a native azalea while I was there and when I planted it the bottom half of the soil stayed in the nursery pot because it was so freshly potted up. The hemlock is in one of those velcro fabric pots so I'll check out the root situation once the soil is frozen or nice and dry and see what I can get away with. No one has EVER accused me of taking things too slow with a tree so I'm trying to be a little more gentle until the tree really pumps growth and I can say it's because of my care. Ideally I would have bought 2 of these so I could have a "limit pusher" and "golden child" but at the price point it was just one.

 

[ABCarve]

I just got done pruning back hard the two I have a week ago. It was done to keep the foliage opened up and inner growth healthy. Pruning now will promote back budding and let you see just what’s in there.

 

[PA_Penjing]

I just got done pruning back hard the two I have a week ago. It was done to keep the foliage opened up and inner growth healthy. Pruning now will promote back budding and let you see just what’s in there.

Thank you so much for that input! Your first frost date is ahead of mine, so maybe I'll wait a week to trim mine? (am I too concerned about sparking new extensions?) I am eager to expose the inner branches while they are still cloaked in needles

 

[ABCarve]

Thank you so much for that input! Your first frost date is ahead of mine, so maybe I'll wait a week to trim mine? (am I too concerned about sparking new extensions?) I am eager to expose the inner branches while they are still cloaked in needles

I wouldn’t worry about the extension. Mine continues to grow as long as I continue to pinch. I usually stop pinching mid September.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

I agree with @ABCarve that sooner is better for removing redundant and awkward growth. Do take your time to put some thought into it, but it will let in light and also let you see what you have to work with.

It doesn’t have to be done in one go, but a branch here and a branch there can make the next moves more obvious.

Preserve inner and lower growth at this stage. And preserve if anything looks like a natural new leader.

 

[PA_Penjing]

I gave it a good trim across the outer branches and stopped. Then I thought about it for a while and figured I would only need to open it up down the road to really see inside so I got bold and took off about 55% of the foliage. A lot of the branches don’t have very attractive angles off the trunk but I’ll worry about that later, had to make a big decision and removed a competing trunk near the base that has caused a taper issue. Trunk is only 1 1/8” so I’m sure it will grow out. Good bare spot on one side half way up the trunk but I believe I’ll remove that at some point. There is a junction of three branches and a sudden change in taper making the leader at that point an obvious sacrifice. Maybe in June I’ll strip the side branches from the sacrifice but for now I want options and to take my foot off the gas. Pictures show foliage removed, new form and red line follows probable future apex.
I guess now I just protect newly exposed foliage from intense hot sunlight, and I’ll see what the roots look like in spring

 

[PA_Penjing]

Again, I do very much appreciate the input. There is a pretty finite amount of info on these guys as bonsai. Actually I think it's mostly just here on Bnut ha

 

[Dabbler]

For me I would wait before removing anything and wait till your repot it and find a front - from there you can make better branch choices

 

[ABCarve]

I think you could still lightly prune the tips of those branches. As for branches with bad angles I’ll refer you to this thread for changing the angle. I’ve used this technique each year to to address the design as it develops. Look at posts #59-60. Eastern hemlock respond quite well to this as the branches are flexible and heal quickly. The results are more permanent than just trying to wire them down.

Post in thread 'Winter Hazel'

Aug 10, 2020

I planted my winter hazel in an oversized pot to let it grow out for a couple of years and pretty much ignored it this summer. It has exploded with new growth. A lot of the new branches are crossing and rubbing together. In zone 7 would it be ok to prune it back in mid August or should I just leave it until spring? I don’t care about the flowers.

I have pruned mine this time of year and still have flowers. Your growing season is much longer. You should be okay. I probably wouldn’t prune much later.
If you’re letting it grow out, why are you pruning it?

• ABCarve

• 

 

[PA_Penjing]

Thank you, and I will @ABCarve