Hemlock trees are famous for their lush, dense branches that love to spread out. The great news for us gardeners? These evergreens are incredibly resilient and handle pruning like a champ. Whether you’re looking to tidy up a stray branch or reshape a whole row, here’s the lowdown on when and how to give your Hemlock a haircut.
Can You Prune a Hemlock Tree?
Left to their own devices, Hemlocks can grow pretty tall and wide. While they look stunning and natural in a massive park, they can quickly overwhelm a standard backyard. Luckily, because they are so “cut-tolerant,” you can easily manage the size of a single tree or keep a Hemlock hedge looking sharp and tidy.
There are just a couple of “pro tips” to keep in mind before you grab your shears. First, try to avoid cutting back into old wood. If you prune branches that are four years or older, the tree will be much slower to sprout new growth. Second, timing is everything! The best window for pruning is late winter to early spring (February through April). If you notice a few spots you missed, a light touch-up in the summer is perfectly fine.
How to Prune Like a Pro
The way you approach the job depends on how old your tree is and the look you’re going for. You can prune these evergreens into various shapes or even bring a weeping Hemlock back into form. If you follow these basics, your tree will bounce back with plenty of fresh, green growth.
Here’s what to focus on:
- For a denser look: Simply trim back the fresh green tips to encourage thicker growth.
- For older trees: Prune them into a classic pyramid shape so sunlight reaches the lower branches.
- To slim it down: Focus on shortening the side branches.
If you have a Hemlock with two main trunks and want a slimmer profile, you can actually saw one off right at ground level. On the flip side, if you want a shorter, wider tree, you can “top” it by cutting the lead branch at the top to your desired height. Just a heads-up: once you cut the main top leader, the tree will likely grow multiple new tops, which will definitely change its silhouette over time!
