The Hemlock (Tsuga) Discussion THREAD.

[ghues]

Just wondering if there were enough Bnut members who wanted to review, discuss, ask questions, show examples, give personal stories on the North American Hemlocks, The Eastern, Western, Mountain and the Caroliniana?
So is there?
Maybe if we are lucky the moderator would add another conifer forum..... and there should be one for Larch too?
Gman

 

[Bavarian Raven]

I like the idea. They're one of my favourite species to work with. I like the idea of its own subthread.

 

[VAFisher]

I have one spindly example that I'm using to learn the species - how to prune it and keep it happy. This came from the mountains of western North Carolina near Highlands and was collected (I assume illegally) by my 72 year old Mom. She knew I was interested in hemlock and decided to bring me one from a trip she took with my aunt a few years back. So, I'm not sure if it's Carolina or Eastern Hemlock. I just read that Carolina come from drier, rockier sites and the needles smell like tangerines when crushed. Ill have to test that out.

I'm not sure what I'll do with it going forward but here it is as of now.

 

[ghues]

I have one spindly example that I'm using to learn the species - how to prune it and keep it happy. This came from the mountains of western North Carolina near Highlands and was collected (I assume illegally) by my 72 year old Mom. She knew I was interested in hemlock and decided to bring me one from a trip she took with my aunt a few years back. So, I'm not sure if it's Carolina or Eastern Hemlock. I just read that Carolina come from drier, rockier sites and the needles smell like tangerines when crushed. Ill have to test that out.

I'm not sure what I'll do with it going forward but here it is as of now.

View attachment 313746
I’m not an expert on Eastern or Carolina but I think we can assume that they could be treated the same as their western cousins?! I see that yours has some long extensions from this years growth. You can find tiny buds back along those extensions that you can trim back too, I leave a stub which dies back and can be removed later.

 

[ghues]

I like the idea. They're one of my favourite species to work with. I like the idea of its own subthread.

I totally agree, this species is continuing to grow in popularity, especially along the West Coast and there are many great examples and information from the Portland Village folks, Micheal Hagedorn, Matt Reel, Ryan Neal, Bobby Curttright and further north Dan Robinson.

 

[Bavarian Raven]

I totally agree, this species is continuing to grow in popularity, especially along the West Coast and there are many great examples and information from the Portland Village folks, Micheal Hagedorn, Matt Reel, Ryan Neal, Bobby Curttright and further north Dan Robinson.

Now we just need to convince the mods

 

[HorseloverFat]

I’ve enjoyed hemlocks in the wild for just about as long as can “recall” the “wild.

I had (in my first year “madness”) collected two tsugas, that after really considering it... should not have been collected..

But I decided to attempt interesting things with these less than ideal specimens..

So these young’uns where collected AND styled (2 of my first 3 wiring jobs... I know where I need to improve) in early spring .. (bad idea.. I know..)

I’ll get better tsuga specimens next year.

But these are my current Tsuga “Turds” (also in my “other conifers thread)

 

[MrFancyPlants]

I probably over post about these two, But I really like Hemlock. The first was from a box store depot in the Spring of ‘18, repotted spring of ‘19 into a flat, and really pumping out some growth now. The second was collected from the mountains in ‘13. I am surprised how different the growth habit in the two is. The depot tree seems to have much more compact growth and is well capable of shading out lower branches if not careful; despite the high Shade tolerance of the species. I’m 95% sure they are both canadensis

 

[CWTurner]

Love the species {Canadian), and have had a few, but I'm down to one now. They are not the easiest.
CW

 

[A. Gorilla]

For the n00bs, Tsuga bonsai is like a "snipe hunt". Neither one actually exists and these people are screwing with you. It is a recurring meme.

 

[ghues]

I’ve enjoyed hemlocks in the wild for just about as long as can “recall” the “wild.

I had (in my first year “madness”) collected two tsugas, that after really considering it... should not have been collected..

But I decided to attempt interesting things with these less than ideal specimens..

So these young’uns where collected AND styled (2 of my first 3 wiring jobs... I know where I need to improve) in early spring .. (bad idea.. I know..)

I’ll get better tsuga specimens next year.

But these are my current Tsuga “Turds” (also in my “other conifers thread)
View attachment 313792View attachment 313793

I’d recommend that you to get your trees healthy and full of vigor before attempting styling or repotting. I’ve lost some nice Yamadori by rushing things.

 

[HorseloverFat]

I’d recommend that you to get your trees healthy and full of vigor before attempting styling or repotting. I’ve lost some nice Yamadori by rushing things.

Exactly.. I know that it was an oversight..

Luckily these aren’t nice!



The woods are vast and I’m usually “all up in em” at least once daily...

Can’t wait till my second collecting season. (My “second swing”)

 

[HorseloverFat]

For the n00bs, Tsuga bonsai is like a "snipe hunt". Neither one actually exists and these people are screwing with you. It is a recurring meme.

But at least we know Tsugas ARE in fact trees.

...and I like trees.


(what is a “meme”?)

 

[ghues]

I probably over post about these two, But I really like Hemlock. The first was from a box store depot in the Spring of ‘18, repotted spring of ‘19 into a flat, and really pumping out some growth now. The second was collected from the mountains in ‘13. I am surprised how different the growth habit in the two is. The depot tree seems to have much more compact growth and is well capable of shading out lower branches if not careful; despite the high Shade tolerance of the species. I’m 95% sure they are both canadensis

Lots of potential in them. The box store one is a variety selected for its growth habits, probably made by cuttings. Here is one commercial variety of Western called (“Curly”) for its needles. I got it as a seedling......It’s only 9 years old but is barking up nicely for such a young age. One disappointment with it is that the branches are very very brittle, so I’ve learned to clip and grow this one.

 

[bonsai dave]

Here are a couple of mtn hemlocks I have in my collection.

 

[ABCarve]

Has anyone tried doing a shohin hemlock?

 

[bonsai dave]

Here are few more mtn hemlocks I picked up this year.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

Has anyone tried doing a shohin hemlock?

If my air-layer takes, I’ll likely keep it on the smaller side. You’d think with the small leaves it would be suitable for smaller designs, but I haven’t seen any.

 

[A. Gorilla]

But at least we know Tsugas ARE in fact trees.

...and I like trees.


(what is a “meme”?)

Debatable

 

[HorseloverFat]

Debatable

The term “tree” is debatable?

I have so much to learn!

How about? Hemlocks ARE in fact plants?

...and I like plants.



They are Gymnosperms.. we can admit THAT, right?