Peninsula Tsuga (western hemlock)

[Cruiser]

Collected June ‘24
Planted in Douglas-fir bark within Anderson flat. Placed in shade.


Some buds had already opened. Others were close.


Trunk damage.

The feature on a Douglas-fir.

On an old western hemlock.




By September some needles had been lost, mainly at the apex.



In October some deadwood was cleaned out from around the trunk base.
Before:


After:

 

[Cruiser]

April ‘25


Buds for 2025 growth are set but not swollen at this time. (A little behind my other western hemlocks)

Fine root growth is very strong.
W. Hemlock loves organic horizons.
Roots grew up into an additional bark layer that was added last winter. Constant moisture in the substrate permits shallow root growth.

 

[Cruiser]

Current End of June ‘25

The canopy is filling in. New growth has emerged throughout tree, including interior branches close to the trunk.




Growth is strongest at branch ends and at apex.
To encourage stronger interior growth and ramification, long shoots at the ends of some branches were pinched off.



Pinching was mostly applied to branches that are scheduled for tentative removal anyway.

 

[SpencerI]

This is looking great! I have a few western hemlocks I picked up from a local nursery. Do you feel the Douglas Fir bark is helping growth? I ask because some of my western hemlocks are in potting soil from the nursery and some are in a 50/50 mix of perlite and soil.

 

[Shogun610]

Cool tree what is your current vision of design ?

 

[Cruiser]

This is looking great! I have a few western hemlocks I picked up from a local nursery. Do you feel the Douglas Fir bark is helping growth? I ask because some of my western hemlocks are in potting soil from the nursery and some are in a 50/50 mix of perlite and soil.

Thanks yes, the bark does help growth as it creates favorable conditions for the roots. (An insulating top layer, well draining, holds onto nutrients, and breaks down so roots grow into the chunks.)
In the wilds around here, hemlock often grows and thrives in Douglas-fir bark. Seedlings will even establish in the crevices of flakey bark still on old trees.

Cool tree what is your current vision of design ?

Thanks.
A coastal tree, battered by wind and salt spray. Like those found on the west side of the Olympic peninsula.


Not exactly these trees, but one that possesses similar features caused by the same stimuli.

Growth mostly on leeward side.

Flattened top.

 

[Shogun610]

Thanks yes, the bark does help growth as it creates favorable conditions for the roots. (An insulating top layer, well draining, holds onto nutrients, and breaks down so roots grow into the chunks.)
In the wilds around here, hemlock often grows and thrives in Douglas-fir bark. Seedlings will even establish in the crevices of flakey bark still on old trees.
View attachment 605192



Thanks.
A coastal tree, battered by wind and salt spray. Like those found on the west side of the Olympic peninsula.
View attachment 605193

Not exactly these trees, but one that possesses similar features caused by the same stimuli.
View attachment 605194
Growth mostly on leeward side.
View attachment 605196
Flattened top.
View attachment 605197

Oooh very cool beautiful inspiration , that lower branch going up def could still go up and out battered along w the top. Looking forward to seeing it when you bring it to life !

 

[MrFancyPlants]

I never realized how similar western was to eastern hemlock. Usually, I see mountain hemlock from that side of the rock.