(Apologies to Star Trek).
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by SAMIAM
"...There seems to be no pattern because they are scattered among other healthy trees. We hate to lose them as they are all nice,full grown shade trees. I don't know whether to call a forester or a tree company? Any ideas?
|
I wouldn't fret over losing hemlocks. I'd trade a white pine tree for every hemlock that has rocketed-up since my acre was nearly clear cut fifty years ago of every marketable tree. (Meaning white pine trees).
As stated, they seem prone to die-offs
selectively, leaving many healthy hemlocks between the dying ones. I've left two dead hemlocks standing to encourage visits by Pileated Woodpeckers—as close to an Ivorybill as New Hampshire's going to get. (And had a tiny Downy Woodpecker visit just yesterday).
While hemlocks will make quick privacy hedges in just a few years (and I transplanted a bunch last summer for that very reason), hemlock needles do nothing to deter runoff and are readily washed or blown into the lake.
Even huge sugar maples won't shade-out hemlocks, but hemlocks will kill off everything underneath them—except other hemlocks.
One good reason to cut down any dead/dying hemlocks would be to plant a few white pines (to guarantee one successful pine). IMHO, white pines are what had kept Lake Winnipesaukee clear of silt and other runoff products, but they need ample sun to get going.